Is facebook and social media in general a placebo to real interaction with people?

And you think this simulation brought you here?

 

In many ways yes. I know a guy who lives in a rural area out in New Mexico (a state in USA) and since the population density is extreme low, he's really into making online friends.

In my opinion, it's not a real relationship but if there is a common interest, it may work. I've never tried it so I'm no expert.

 

The best thing about online friends is that they can give you an honest advice about everything and it seems like they are always there for you. Despite all the benefits of having online friends I don't think they can serve as a substitute for real life interraction.

 

Its pretty much an illusion. I did get to know a lot of my former online friends, none of them remained... the difference is simply to big. Yes its a substitute: a collection. Chatting with dozen of people at the same time, while not directly interacting with each other. It provides "security": thats why it happens as well between people that allready know each other. Nothing is as dificult as being "face-to-face". But since we have at the same time the wish that "someone is there for me" we use the internet etc as a "perfect" compromise: close enough to provide the feeling "someones there", distance enough to avoid any real "confrontation". We hide...thats my impression....