Dialectical Thinking

Relationships have many different definitions because there are many different ways you can relate to people. Your mom, brother, best friend or someone you just met. Technology has come up with several different ways you can not only be interlinked to people you have never met around your community but people you have never met around the world. Thanks to Facebook I can have a couple hundred friends without ever leaving my couch. Skyping, Instant Messaging, sharing, all of these things are ways I can relate to other people on the internet through Facebook. This idea supports Dunbar's Number theory considering if it is that easy to maintain 150 relationships through the internet it might actually be possible.                                                                     (google images)

But has the definition of "meeting new people" really changed? I get a random friend request from someone and I never have the intention of actually getting to know them. But, now I know they are an actual living, breathing person on this planet. Did I meet them officially? And if I don't officially meet them, can we really be considered friends? Take Instagram for an example. I can physically see what this person looks like, what they do, who they hang out with, and every single vacation they've been on since 2012. I can tag them in pictures, Instant Message communicate with them, and so on. I can't really get more relative than that with any followers on Instagram. Users only allow you to see what they want you to see.

(google images)

"Catfishing" is a new term developed because people began posing as other people on social media platforms. While posing as other people, would get in contact with others and try to build relationships using false pictures, videos, etc. This term gives a whole new meaning to "stranger danger". Most times, you can't know for sure if this person is who they say they are until you meet in person or happen to get them to Skype you. As Silver states in his article, "Personally, I don't ever start to classify someone as that until I've shaken their hand in person." Otherwise, social media is a valuable way to maintain relationships you already have.

Depending on the percentage of communication you have that is solely social media based may determine the actual value of your relationships.