Are online friends real?

The people that you meet online aren't real. It's not lasting. It's not impactful. Blah, blah blah.  We’re constantly surrounded by people who invalidate or don't believe that friendships or connections online count as real. But if you’re like me, I’ve met so, so many of my friends and colleagues on Twitter, in seminars, and in other online spaces. So today I want to talk about the intersection of friendship, community, networking, and how that shows up online and in all of life, as well as how this translates into our approaches to marketing and communications. In this episode, we dive into my early struggles with friendships and being bullied — plus how hard it is to make friends as adults. We also discuss the increased levels of loneliness and depression, the difference between friendship and parasocial relationships, and some tips on maintaining these bonds, both in person and online. Finally, I'll dig into how all this matters to our work in higher ed marketing and communications. Please note: This episode touches on topics like depression. Take care while listening.   For all notes of this episode head to: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/are-online-friends-real/   Connect with Josie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieandthepodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieATPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/ Website: www.josieahlquist.com Email: [email protected]   Mentioned in the episode: University FM Campus Sonar Open Eye Crystals Depression - World Health Organization Finding My Footing  Loneliness in America: How the Pandemic Has Deepened an Epidemic of Loneliness and What We Can Do About It (Harvard) The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A Post-Pandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults (Cigna) How to Be a Better Friend By Tara Parker-Pope (NYTimes) Why Making Friends in Midlife Is So Hard By Katharine Smyth (The Atlantic) Asking People about IRL Friends on Twitter The Friendship Report 2020 by Snapchat How many hours does it take to make a friend? (SAGE) Epic Rap Battles of History - Youtube Katie Spencer Johnson / Calle Goodwin Twitter thread  Jackbox Game ‘I was lacking deeper connection’: can online friends be the answer to loneliness? By Yasmina Floyer (The Guardian) Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and Keep- Friends - Dr. Marisa G. Franco Dunbar's number: you can only maintain 150 relationships How to Make Friends As an Adult By Emily Burns (The Cut) Dr. Miriam Kirmayer Vina App Peanut App Bumble Friendship App Are Online & Real Life Friendships The Same? How The Internet Makes A Difference by ReGain Editorial Team (ReGain) College students and depression: A guide for parents (Mayo Clinic) College Students’ Sense of Belonging and Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic (National Library of Medicine) Building a Sense of Community for All (NSEE) Fostering Belonging (Northeastern)