You Go First

Digital communication has significantly changed human relationships, especially for the younger generations who have never known a world without the internet. Digital platforms offer new and faster ways for people who have already established in-person relationships to communicate with each other, but these platforms have also created ways for people who have never met to establish relationships based on mutual interests, shared duties, and more. Although the misuse of digital platforms can lead to miscommunication or the spread of misinformation, digital communication can also provide opportunities for relationships to grow in meaningful, unique ways. This is the case for Ben and Charlotte, for whom online Scrabble offers opportunities for both building friendships and self-actualization. While the two children feel isolated in their schools, the digital platform allows them to form a cross-country relationship, connecting them from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. Platforms that contribute to the formation of digital relationships include social media, online games, dating and friendship apps, message boards, chat rooms, and online communities for people with specific hobbies or interests. According to a 2015 article, 57% of teenagers had made at least one online friend (Manacher, Ilene. “More than half of teens make new friends online.