I'm an introvert. By nature, and by choice. I'm not shy and not one to avoid confrontation. I just enjoy quiet places and my own company. The last two years have been hard on all of us. But for those who thrive on social interaction, and refill their well from being around people, the inability to do so has been specially hard. Social Media filled some of that void. But I think it simultaneously brings people together and pushes them apart.
Virtual connections have become a substitute for real life connections. And I wonder about how much of it is good and how much is bad. For some, social media has become a life saver. It allows them to communicate and relate in the only way they can. For others a reason to isolate even more. And for others, a place to spill their anger and judgmental views. There's something about being on the other side of a screen that seems to bring out the worst is some people. We all have seen our share of such behavior.
But we all have also seen people coming together to help each other. Be it in helping to find a lost pet or helping people who lost their homes in a disaster. Social Media has changed the way we communicate and interact. And I believe it's here to stay. New platforms may come, and old ones may disappear. But the way we communicate and connect has changed.
What do you think? Has social media replaced some of your real-life relationships? Or does it add to them? Is it the evil some claim it to be? Or just another way to stay connected?