despite virtual communities, are we lonely?

vir·tu·al ˈvərCHo͞oəl/

com·mu·ni·ty kəˈmyo͞onitē/

“a social network of individuals who interact through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political

boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals.”

We are always connected.

Virtual communities break down the geographical limitations of networks.

They allow us to meet new people, connect with old ones, and share

ideas.

We love it.

What we use to participate in virtual communities has changed rapidly in the last couple of decades.

We connect on multiple platforms,

with a variety of people.

These virtual communities allow us to communicate with those far,

and close.

Either way, there are many platforms available.

Each serving a different purpose to its user.

1,310,000,000 active users

645,750,000 active users

4,250,000,000 videos viewed per day.

Leveraging these communities to build our social network.

Working, socializing, innovating.

These virtual communities seem inescapable.

However, the opportunities

seem endless.

It’s hard to imagine how one could be lonely,

with an entire support system, right at our fingertips.

It seems as though that is how we end up - alone. Virtual communities may not be quite as attractive as they seem.