Internet usage increases loneliness

HoosierCanuck

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"Chatrooms."

That's a blast from the past. I haven't been on one of those in about 12 years. I remember some of the ones from AOL back in the day. I wouldn't even know where to find one now.

lol....that's my age showing I guess. haha I actually avoiding 'chatting' situations for the same reason. I reckon it doesn't have to be 'chatrooms.' lol
 
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RosaVernal

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I don't think so.

Of course, I tend to actually meet the people, talk on the phone, all that: it doesn't make me any more depressed or anything that I have more friends online than in person.


Feeling lonely increases loneliness, not being social with more people.
 
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seangoh

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i agree with the radio program..being online cuts the same amount of time offline and a chance to meet with real people. Unfortunately, i'm online at work and at home and i'm actually struggling to get my butt out there to meet people. It takes more effort to do that in real life than in the virtual world. But i feel that's where i would gather the benefits of real fellowship and belonging. What i gather to be beneficial visiting CF is that hundreds can read my post and those who have gone through a similar experience can give better advise. So to me, if i want to get advice or opinions, CF is good.
 
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Beauty4Ashes

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I believe you can have friendships with people online, however it is by no means a sufficant replacement for real life relationships. As far as romantic relationships, I don't believe in "internet relationships." It's way too 1-dimensional.

Even though I met my boyfriend on here and we are currently long distance. We didn't label the months we spent talking daily as dating. We didn't consider our relationship to be a dating relationship until we had met in person and spent time together to be able to make a proper decision. There's no way we would go months without seeing eachother. We see eachother fairly regularily, however of course the ideal would be to not have the distance but that is in the process of being remedied.

From my experience, there is just no way you will have the same depth of relationship without being with and knowing a person regularly in real life. Your relationship will lack the depth that is needed to flourish and grow.

I think people should be careful to make sure they don't get so caught up in their online worlds and "relationships" that they lose touch with reality or simply spend too much time online to have the time to nurture and create healthy relationships in real life. The internet is a wonderful tool however it is just that, a tool, that can be used to better one's life and make their reality that much more enlightened, or it can be overused and become much less than a tool, and a mere crutch.
 
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rifle5k

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I believe you can have friendships with people online, however it is by no means a sufficant replacement for real life relationships. As far as romantic relationships, I don't believe in "internet relationships." It's way too 1-dimensional.

Even though I met my boyfriend on here and we are currently long distance. We didn't label the months we spent talking daily as dating. We didn't consider our relationship to be a dating relationship until we had met in person and spent time together to be able to make a proper decision. There's no way we would go months without seeing eachother. We see eachother fairly regularily, however of course the ideal would be to not have the distance but that is in the process of being remedied.

From my experience, there is just no way you will have the same depth of relationship without being with and knowing a person regularly in real life. Your relationship will lack the depth that is needed to flourish and grow.

I think people should be careful to make sure they don't get so caught up in their online worlds and "relationships" that they lose touch with reality or simply spend too much time online to have the time to nurture and create healthy relationships in real life. The internet is a wonderful tool however it is just that, a tool, that can be used to better one's life and make their reality that much more enlightened, or it can be overused and become much less than a tool, and a mere crutch.
your smart (my hick is showing)
 
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Periann

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I think people should be careful to make sure they don't get so caught up in their online worlds and "relationships" that they lose touch with reality or simply spend too much time online to have the time to nurture and create healthy relationships in real life. The internet is a wonderful tool however it is just that, a tool, that can be used to better one's life and make their reality that much more enlightened, or it can be overused and become much less than a tool, and a mere crutch.

:thumbsup: I agree.

I'm glad I have the internet though and CF to interact with people and pick up on views and ideas that I would probably never hear with my own ears in real life. To me it's just another learning experience, I take it for what it's worth and I don't try to make more out of it. I'm not opposed to making online friends but I certainly don't go out of my way to seek them out, the few I have though I count as blessings in my life but I realize that these friendships are much shorter lived.

I also have to add that there have been times I've been to places with a lot of friends and have still felt alone, even though it's been in real life.
 
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* kittie *

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I now separate what's online and what's off. I don't develop intimate relationships on here, because well... been there done that. If you try to use online to replace offline, then yea...I think it can create more loneliness. However, in saying more, I think that this pertains to people who were lonely to begin with.

On the other hand, I think that if you can keep it on a healthy level, it can be fine. I come on here in the middle of studying... a lot of times I'm procrastinating (like now) and just looking for topics where I can lend my opinion. But I hardly even remember names unless there is a good interaction. Other than those, I can't say it effects me in any way. I think that some people are better at this than others, so it really depends...

I am not against the idea of intimate online relationships though. The problem with them is that many times, they're not very equal. One will feel more strongly while the other is close but at the end of the day, has his/her own life to go to (especially due to the lack of facial expressions, tone, etc...). I've gained quite a few friends that I met online, many who have lent more support than even offline friends, so... I think it's a bit of a juggling act.
 
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