Going from don’t talk to strangers on the internet to online

Remember when you first made your Facebook account! Imagine the happiness you felt at that time. At the time when the internet was a luxury and using Facebook was a privilege, you were one of the lucky ones. Back then, times were different and exposure was limited. People weren’t used to connecting with each other through social media. Thus it was common to hear apprehension from people, including our parents to hear our parents about not talking to strangers on the internet. We used to spend limited time on these platforms. interacting with people was a big no-no. People were scared of cybercrimes, identity theft, and attacks on privacy. Social media was a dangerous place to be in.

Today, the tables have turned and the world has fallen prey to the internet. Most of us cannot work or function without the internet. There are multiple social media apps that we use. The world has wholly and truly gone digital. The Internet has become a means to do business, connect with old friends, socialize, and even date! The internet has become a haven for all things good, and bad.

Going from “don’t talk to strangers on the internet” to making the best of friends there, the world has truly changed. The internet has become a safe place for making new friends and this has given rise to a new term called “online friendships”.

Now, what are online friendships?

Online friends are a term given to people who have never met in their life but are good friends on social media platforms. These friendships are completely virtual and the two friends have never met in real life. 

But why are online friendships flourishing so much? 

It is said that today people are finding more solace online than in real life. This coupled with the ongoing pandemic-induced lockdown, people are increasingly leaning on the internet for entertainment. There has been great exposure to youngsters and there have been apps specifically curated for people to make friends and get connected online. Studies show that people find it easy to talk to a stranger online rather than talking physically to a person. People have gone on record and said that they find it easier to express their feelings over the internet. 

Online friendships are said to last longer than regular ones. The internet has given a new meaning and definition to regular friendships and it has worked for people. All this aside, the internet is still a dangerous place. Not all people come there with the right intentions. So, beware choose the right people and make good friends!