Phone Friendships Are Easier Than Real Friendships
~By Charlotte~
Phone Friendships can benefit us in many ways. In our chronically online post-pandemic world, relationship dynamics have changed – most friends become phone friends or online friends. Lockdown led to isolation and anxiety for many people, particularly extroverts and those with a previously active social life. Cut off from friends and family and craving intimate conversation, many turned to the only connections they had with the outside world: their phone and the internet.
Maintaining friendships can be difficult under the best of circumstances but it is vital to our mental health. Having someone to unwind with, laugh with, share secrets, and get/give advice are crucial for our well-being. The stress of loneliness can be detrimental to our health so friendships, even online and telephone friendships, can enrich your life in many ways. In fact, for some people having a phone companion or online confidant may be easier than a real-world friend.
Less Pressure With Online Friends and Phone Partners
Offline in-person meetings can be stressful for introverts and those with social anxiety. If that is the case for you, a phone companion may be just what you need. Having an online friend or phone partner can be much easier as there is less pressure to look or act a certain way, silences are far less awkward and you have the freedom to be in your own space (your home, usually) so you are automatically more at ease than you would be in a public place.
Another benefit of non-real-world friendships is that it can be entirely on your terms and time. You choose when you speak with your phone friend, you only call when you are feeling the need for companionship and you don’t have to speak with your online confidant when you don’t feel like talking to someone. Interactions with a phone friend never feel forced or stressful so you can enjoy intimate conversation without constraint.
Expanded Community for Your Interests
If you have a niche hobby or unusual interest, it can be difficult to find like-minded friends in your own local area. The internet opens you to an entire world of people so the likelihood of finding others with similar tastes greatly increases. Whether you’re into gaming, collecting, a sport or any other activity you are guaranteed to find others with whom you can partake in whatever interest you share.
Finding a supportive community can do wonders for your confidence and mental health. And finding an online or phone partner within that community can boost your happiness even more. Having a like-minded friend to share secrets and enjoy intimate conversations with increases your overall quality of life.
Your Phone Friend Could Become Your Closest Confidant
When you find your community online, you are bound to find some people you click with more than others. At some point, it can be assumed that you will find a special someone you look forward to speaking with more than anyone. This person may occupy your thoughts, make you laugh, and make you want to confess your deepest thoughts and before you know it your phone friend becomes your phone friend.
An online or phone friend is actually the PERFECT confidant for several reasons. First and most importantly, you’ve already built a phone friendship with her and friendship is the strongest base for any relationship. In becoming phone friends you already know that you get along, you have similar interests and you enjoy each other’s company. The transition to close confidant from phone friend should be easy and comfortable for both of you!
Another advantage of having a phone confidant is that you both have your own space and only communicate when you are both willing and available. It’s a casual relationship while also being quite emotionally intimate when you choose to be. A relationship built on similar interests can be very fulfilling and improve your well-being and quality of life.
The benefits of online and phone friendships are numerous. Finding a friend or even confidant in the virtual world is far easier and can be much more intimate and rewarding than real-world relationships. A phone partner is often the best partner for some people and will enhance their mental health and happiness.