Critical Analysis Of The Limits Of Friendship

We are embarking into a changing world unlike any other in history. Progressing technology is steam rolling its way into the foundation of modern society and is constantly changing it at an exponential rate. Powerful technology, such as handheld devices, allow for unrestricted and immediate global communication. There is an intense dichotomy between what incredible new benefits these technologies can offer humanity and some of the dark possibilities that lurk behind technology’s mysterious veil. As these devices allow social relationships to become more accessible, the quality of these relationships is immensely reduced. A perfect example of this is the GoPro - a camera technology which allows for people to share any experience they have from

When someone can follow and observe a wide array of interesting videos or pictures posted on social media, people “follow” and connect with the other people, which creates the illusion of an intimate connection. People usually never meet most of the friends they have on social media sites, so they never have a genuine interaction with them. Meeting new people online and connecting with them is substantially easier in comparison to real-world interactions that generally require more effort to succeed at. In addition to this, finding a partner has become a fairly expedited process given online dating sites such as Tinder, eHarmony, and Farmers Only used by millions of people in every age group. Especially considering millennials, when there is a newer and easier way to do something, we’re going to automatically use it in pursuit of a more effortless life experience. Though it may be easier and less stressful, it isn’t helping us gain experience finding relationships the “old fashioned” way, where you can bond over an experience you were lucky enough to share with someone in real time. Konnikova endorses real-life experiences as she writes, “But one of the things that keeps face-to-face friendships strong is the nature of shared experience: you laugh together; you laugh together; you dance together; you gape at the hot-dog eaters on Coney Island together,” (237). Later in her essay, Konnikova brings up an enthralling point about the power of touch as described by Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist. Dunbar says, “With a light brush on the shoulder, a pat, or a squeeze of the arm or hand, we can communicate a deeper bond than through speaking alone,” (238). Going back to the online dating,