We are living in an increasingly digital world, and this means that more often than not, we are engaging with other humans and businesses on digital platforms.
More of us spend time looking at screens, and even certain interactions that would have been purely in-person years ago have entered the realm of the online world.
In a post-COVID landscape, there is concern that digital interactions will harm human connections over time.
The truth is that the human connection can even be strengthened by digital interactions rather than harmed.
Protecting Privacy When Needed
Interestingly enough, one of the ways digital interactions help the human connection is by making us feel safer online and offline.
A major example is preserving our privacy.
Many online consumers find themselves concerned about the use of their data, especially following scandals like Cambridge Analytica.
Luckily, various digital Innovations allow them to preserve this privacy.
Take the world of online gambling, which has only grown more popular in the last few years.
Typically, online gambling requires customers to surrender some of their sensitive personal information, and not everyone is keen on this.
The good news is that through the use of technologies like blockchain and its by-products, consumers can get their casino needs met without having to disclose their information.
As Andjelija Blagojevic explains, one of the benefits of no-KYC platforms is that customers can engage with more ease.
When they feel that their privacy is protected on the sites they use, they are typically more open to engaging with others.
Facilitating Cross-Border Friendships
While there are billions of people in the world, distance has always meant that the people we can connect with might be limited by geographic location.
Say you are very enthusiastic about a piece of media or a sports team but a majority of its fans live on another continent.
Typically, this would mean that you would struggle to find any community with like-minded people and would be out of luck.
But with the rise of the internet, more and more of us are making friends in online circles that are of different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, ages, and so on.
It is not unheard of for people to develop deep bonds from online gaming communities, chat rooms, and so on.
These might even lead to real-life engagement and even romance.
Plus, digital connections also enable people with physical or intellectual disabilities or otherwise limiting factors to gain the sort of community they would be shut out of outside of the internet.
Facilitating Events
If the COVID-19 pandemic showed us anything, it is that much of our engagement and interaction can be done virtually.
From weddings to graduations to game nights with friends, many of us got creative and turned to video conferencing software like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to get our needs met.
Even years after the pandemic officially ended, some of us are still opting for this.
Conferences, for example, are more accessible to researchers in other parts of the world if they are held online.
More people are live streaming their big days, such as weddings and birthdays, to accommodate family who cannot attend in person.
Taking a look at the metaverse, it is not unheard of for concerts and other such events to be held, with even top celebrities in attendance.
Essentially, digital interactions have pushed the boundaries of what an event can be, and this, in turn, helps to facilitate the human connection.
Rather than missing out on an extended family member’s birthday or a major conference due to distance, you can make the connections and stay in touch with your loved ones.
Organising A Cross-Shared Interest
One of the most fascinating displays of human connections being deepened by the digital world has been the ways that groups of people organize virtually for a common good.
Last year, a group of young people held protests in the ROBLOX universe because they couldn’t attend in real life.
During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, groups from all over the world joined hands to make their voices heard, even cutting across racial and political lines.
One of the greatest displays of human connection is political organization, and there is no doubt that the internet has made this easier than ever.
Constant Communication
At the simplest level, digital interaction simply means that we can communicate more with loved ones.
50 years ago, you could only speak to a distant relative or friend on the phone or through letters.
Now, you can see each other’s faces every single day if you want to.
Online gift services mean that you can easily send gifts to loved ones you don’t see physically.
Human connections are deepened by consistent communication, and all things considered, the digital world facilitates better communication.
Conclusion
Digital interactions have gotten a bad rap over the years, and while there are certainly things to critique, it has certainly not destroyed the human connection.
If anything, digital interactions offer various avenues for deepening this connection.
Whether this is developing a better relationship with existing loved ones or finding friends online, there is a world of opportunity to be had.
Hope you’ve found our article, Why Digital Interactions Add to Human Connection Rather Than Replace It useful.
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