Digital Friendships

Are online friends worth it? 

I was in sixth grade when I went online for the first time to chat with couple of my friends. They were the same friends with whom I spent most of my day at school. Facebook was new and so were we to the internet. We used to plan and decide the timings to co-ordinate our presence on the internet world. This world was so fascinating that it ended up in our daily routine time table. I vividly remember that I always managed to take out time in between homework and playing outside to sit and chat in front of a desktop.

And now, history has repeated itself. Here, we are sitting in front of our screens again. The only difference is, this time we are not excited at all. We are not excited to chat with a friend who lives just 15 minutes away. The pandemic has not only jeopardized our physical well being but has injured the intimacy as well. We are talking to our best friends as same as we are talking a new person.

How will these digital friendships turn out? Will they be just like the online classes?

“I met him online, went on a couple of dates and now we are talking like all day.” This is one perspective where you will meet people who are good for you and nothing can stop them to have a part of your life, not even this pandemic. This statement came across when we all thought the virus is settling down and will soon be over. But, unfortunately the situation is even worse now. After this wave, I asked her, “Where is he now? Is he still there?”  Without hesitating, she said, “Yes.” This made me think that the situation is same for all of us. No one can really get out of their safe homes (and should not). Just think of how are you treating that online friend, he/she will may reply with the same energy or will tell you what this relationship means.

“I wish, these online classes can go on, at least until I am done with my studies.” This is another face of the coin. My friend does not want to make new friends and is comfortable with the distance with her new classmates. She said, she already has a lot of friends and does not wish to have more. So, she never really shows interest in the conversations other than academics. During the starting of the session, few over excited beings texted her but she did not retaliate with the same excitement, hence was successful in not attracting any other being from the class. A perfect plan...

Finding people online has always been a big part of my ‘virtual’ social circle. Even before lockdowns and virus, I liked staying at home but I was always meeting people online (look whose skills are useful now). I hardly met people for just the sake of meeting them, but this pandemic made me regret it. I regret not meeting enough people when I had the chance to and now I am struggling for it. I was never sure whether the people will stay or not and this is same for the people whom I met, during this pandemic. Did you always know who will stay in your life? I never knew it.

These anecdotes were to show that it was never the pandemic. Your relationship, even with digital friends, depends on the interests you share. You can never expect anyone, online or offline friends, to stay more than they want to. I agree that it is difficult but that’s where technology steps in and helps to interact via different platforms. There is a possibility that a digital friend becomes a major part of your life. The pandemic has at least shown us that there is always hope. Hope that the pandemic will end soon; hope that the other person will reply with same energy.

“It is a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.” – Danny Boyle