Lately there has been a notable shift in the way people communicate, which has moved drastically from being an-in person experience to more virtual, because of several factors such as the emergence of smartphones, and the growing popularity of social media.
This presents some severe threats to the way how humans fundamentally express themselves and bond emotionally. Physical touch is the love language for many people who may particularly suffer due to this digital shift. For centuries, people have shown respect towards each other with gestures such as handshakes, and affection, with hugs and kisses. All of this is impossible to achieve virtually and if done for too long, may cause the intimacy to fade away. Overtime, the conversations start to feel boring and dry, they become more shallow and the emotional bonding withers.
Despite all these issues, staying in touch virtually has also become a necessaity, since it is the only way that some people can stay in touch. For instance, the friends and family members staying at a distance or in a different part of the world entirely can rely on the digital medium to communicate. Nevertheless, it is important that people find the time and opportunities to meet-up in real life, on occassions such as birthdays, ceremonies, festivals or even during sad events such as somebody’s demise. Several like-minded form groups online, who could plan offline get-together, fun activities and adventures. All of this is crucial to nurture the bond people have and to make good memories to cherish in the future.
All-in-all, I believe that despite all it’s advantages, people should make an effort to catch-up offline, and make some beautiful memories which aren’t just through a screen, and also nourish their relationships. Long-distance couples should strive to close the distance at some point. It is important to find the right occassion or even excuses to meet the people we love and care about.