It's a cursed place and it's probably good that it's gone, but I made so many friends off Omegle text chat. I also made a few friends off rateyourmusic about five years ago. Seems to be harder to make friends both online and in person now.
Like many of us, I've been on social media since early adolescence. It's part of who I am for better or worse. Now I work in social media, so I'm not really able to remove myself from it completely. I need to be in the know about trends and new features :/ Sometimes it's exciting, but I know it's so bad for me (and everyone). I'm also 30 now and I'm starting to feel like some online spaces aren't really for me anymore. Also MZ can smd! But I do love stories, especially close friends stories. I find it to be one of the quickest ways to share my life with most of my friends. I can find community events, mutual aid opportunities, Also good for lurking.
phones are tools to connect with yr friends they are not the connection. my fav (and worst) memories of my friends isn’t over text, it’s in person or even over the phone. texts and dms are tools to get to that connection, not where the connection happens. constant access to our friends through social media and texts lulls is into thinking we’re connected, when it really isn’t true, i just know that u posted a photo of yr cat or that yr on vacation or yr state of being. that’s just information, not connection. This is a tuff take and Ive lost friends over it, bc in truth, i wouldn’t meet their needs as parasocial/internet connection makes me so miserable and that can have consequences. it’s tough to loose them but I’m happier with people who understand me and vice versa.
I never had twitter but its impact on the internet was undeniable. I see a bunch of people nowadays fearing for the future of media and journalism, as well as the capacity to make regular, normal enough interactions. I leave you with one of my favorite interactions from the platform In the spirit of mourning what was.
The first two lines of the chorus:
'You can never be strong,
You can only be free' Sums up everything great about Robert Pollard's songwriting. Drama, hope and disappointment.
