What does the Digital Lifestyle mean for relationships?
Relationships can mean more than just a guy and a gal falling in love. You are actually in a relationship with everyone and anyone you have ever interacted with. That level of relationship may fall anywhere in the spectrum between stranger, acquaintance, or casual friend. These days, if someone said they were just “Facebook Friends” or “Texting Buddies” with their coworker, we would have a ballpark idea of what they mean. Overall, living a Digital Lifestyle entails all aspects of our lifestyle.
Types Of Online Relationships
In addition to the standard categories of family member, friend, etc., the digital world opens up a whole slew of opportunity and expands on already existing types. To foster the type of online relationship you want, you go to different platforms that cater to different types of activities and, thus, types of interaction.
To take the standard example, serious daters gravitate towards websites like Match or OKCupid. Someone looking for something more casual tends to use a mobile app like Tindr or Cupid.
Many people also use the internet to merely keep in touch with their real-life social network. Any kind of Social Media platform works for this.
Online forums and chat rooms are discussion spaces. Here, people are like modern day penpals. Gamers who want to level-up and game with each other naturally meet through the video game itself.
And yes, the internet can also be used to maintain professional relationships through channels like email or LinkedIn.
Pros And Cons Of Relationships Online
On the flip side, meeting people online helps people who may otherwise have trouble socializing in real life. Relationships can also help people keep in touch with friends and families that live far away. Business does not have to stop just because the executive team has to travel to different locations.
Generally, using the internet as supplementing your real life relationships works better than meeting someone for the first time online. Cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, and catfishing can happen so make sure you are aware of who you are talking to.
Word Up:
The internet was once thought to bridge the physical gaps between people. Originally, people thought the internet would allow people to be just as close to their next door neighbor as their instant messenger buddy across the world. Turns out, human communication and relationship building is a lot more nuanced. Despite all the hype around online communication, nothing can still replace the real benefits of face-to-face communication. What do you think the future of human relationships will look like?
This article is letter (I) of our “Digi Lifestyle" series where we write an article for each letter of the phrase. “Digital Lifestyle" Before anyone realized, we all became immersed and intertwined to our digital devices and internet connection. By laying out a theme related to the Digital Lifestyle everyday, we learned valuable insights into the mindsets, behaviors, and norms that sprout from living so intimately with technology.
(D) What Is The (D)igital Lifestyle?
(I)oT? More Like IoY – Internet of You!
(G) 3 Timeless Steps To Achieve Personal, Career, Squad (G)oals
(I)n The Age Of Intelligent Machines, What Are Humans For?
(L)et’s Learn - Top 10 Most Effective Types Of Content
(I)nteractions And Relationship Success Online
(E) Why (E)ntrepreneurs Live For The Digital Lifestyle
(S) How We Are All (S)tudents Of The Digital Life
(T) How The Digital Lifestyle Has Changed (T)ravel Forever
(L)iving Off The Grid – When The Digital Lifestyle Goes Wrong
(E) Entrepreneur Your Way To Online Success All From Your Sofa
