Friendship-The difference from an acquaintance to a friend is significant. An acquaintance is a person that you know and have friendly accord with. You may have shared some minor experiences and good times with and it creates a general rapport between that person and yourself. I find that most people suddenly are quick to call these people “friends.” In the web world, on social networking sites…we are quick to call people friends. The criteria that defines a person as friend is very limited. Facebook calls acquaintances “friends”. Myspace also refers to anyone whom is in your address book as “friend”. Twitter refers to acquaintances as “followers”. LinkedIn calls them “contacts”. Ning refers to them as “friends”. Friendster calls them, yes you guessed it “Friends”. Bebo, yet another site…refers to them as “friends”.
So here it is-we over qualify individuals as our “friends” when most likely, 75% of these folks are merely acquaintances.
Friends in the real world are defined very differently. Friendships are based on shared experiences, interests, and amiable accord that hinges on some degree of trust between the two people. There normally is a mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection based on respect for each other. With this said, why do social networks believe that they can call someone who links to your profile as a “friend”? There is very little commitment in the virtual world. Virtual relationships hinge on different needs. They are in no way less important than real friendships. Social networking allows people to connect to individuals via the internet that they may not normally be able to connect to. These virtual relationships allow people to connect to humanity in a new way that has never happened before.
However, are we losing our way? At the browse of my computer or phone, I am able to see what all of my “friends” are doing and how their life is progressing with little exchange. I am able to obtain a snapshot of them and connect with them without ever doing so. Is this greater connection isolating us and taking away necessary human contact and interaction that connects us as human?
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