Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
Alex Alexander
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Are Online Friends REAL Friends? (Hint: YES!)
Are online friends REAL friends? I’m not talking about parasocial relationships, which are one-sided relationships; I’m talking about people you’ve had conversations with, people who know things about you. My personal opinion is that they most certainly are. In this episode, I talk in-depth about the difference between my friends I met in person and the friends I met online. I combat some of the pushback people have against people you meet online and highlight some of the benefits of online friendship, from global perspectives to professional support. At the end of the day, true connection isn't about where it started or how it's maintained. It's about how we are showing up for each other and supporting each other, whether that’s across the dinner table or across the world. In this episode you’ll hear about: How many of my current friendships started online, including podcast guests like Alex Friedman and Wesley StroupeWhere online friendships can form (business groups, social media, virtual reality forums, etc.) and how to maintain them (Zoom, Facetime, Marco Polo, social media)Finding niche friends online – for example, many of my professional friendships were formed in the digital space – and gaining global perspectives from themCommon concerns about online friendships: Will they fizzle out? Are they surface-level? Who actually IS this person from the internet? Resources & Links Listen to Episode 25 with Patrice Poltzer, Episode 48 with Michelle Reichman, Episode 72 with Wesley Stroop, Episode 44 with Deasha Waddup, and Episodes 5 and 7 with Alex Friedman. Also be sure to listen to Episode 128 about parasocial relationships! Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok! Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!
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