Friendship is born when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” C.S. Lewis was indeed true when he said this quote. It captures that moment when you realize you’ve found someone who gets you. But in today’s world, with social media dominating our lives, especially for teenagers, this connection seems to be getting harder to find. People tend to build friendships with people whom they have never met before, leading to a relationship with no proper connection between them.
Friendship has evolved from times when we used to hang out with one another after school and go over to our friends’ houses for sleepovers, to today when we have all social media. Nowadays, those moments are often replaced by likes, comments, and the endless scroll of Instagram feeds. Sure, social media can be fun and it’s a great way to keep in touch, but it’s also making us feel more isolated. It also leads to anxiety, depression, FOMO, and so much more other issues.
On one hand, social media lets you stay in close connection with your friends and see what they’re up to. But on the other hand, it can feel like everyone else is living a perfect life while you’re stuck comparing yourself to them. Humans tend to show the best parts of their lives to others, which makes it so that they end up posting only the best parts of their lives. Research has shown that over 96% of the posts on various social media platforms are the positive side of someone’s life. It’s like living in a highlight reel where everyone seems happier and more successful, and that can be tough on self-esteem.
One of the biggest problems with social media is that it encourages a kind of fake reality. Almost every teen, let it be you, me, or anybody for that matter, nowadays feels pressured to look perfect, act perfect, and have perfect lives, after seeing the perfect lives that their friends post on social media platforms. This is one of the key factors that lead to a lot of stress and anxiety. And while it might be easy to comment on a friend’s post, these interactions don’t have the same depth as real-life conversations.
Real friendships take time and effort. It takes months, or even years to build a really strong relationship in which you could trust the other. They’re built on experiences shared, and being there for each other, not just when things are good, but also when they’re tough. This is something you just can’t get from a screen or a random person whom you met online. It takes someone that you have spent years with, shared a lot with, and whom you trust, who would be there for you no matter your situation.
So, how do we encourage real connections in this digital age? For starters, it’s about finding a balance. Sure, social media can be fun, but it shouldn’t replace face-to-face interactions. The easiest, yet the hardest solution is to put down the phones and hang out with their friends. There is nothing better than spending hours with a friend with whom you have known and shared your life with so many times.
Lastly, we must be there for one another. Being a good friend means listening, offering a shoulder to cry on, and just being there no matter the situation. These are the things that build real connections and make friendships last.
In a world where social media is everywhere, we must not forget the importance of real friendships. Valuing the people around you, even those who are not your friends is key to a perfect life. A perfect life is built on the perfect time rather than forcing yourself to be perfect.
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