Making Friends Online and How the Internet Could Create Face-to-Face Connections

While most of DCP has critiqued digital technology's effect on social communication, I still believe it's important to show some of the positives. In 2015, the Pew Research conducted research and created a pie chart on how many teenagers make friends online. 43% said the made no friends at all, while 29% say they made more than 5 friends. Overall, 57% of teens say they have made friends online. As far as actually meeting online friends in-person, 20% say they have, while 77% say they haven't. The numbers may seem low right now, but it signals progress for using the Internet as a tool to create in-person relationships. Nowadays, you're able to meet people in-person through tools like Zoom, in dire situations (COVID-19) or meetings across the continent. Both teens and adults could benefit using the internet for these reasons. The Internet has the potential of building face-to-face communication amongst the world, no matter what age you might be.