Wanting to Connect: Can Meeting in the Virtual World Replace In-Person Interaction?

Photo Credit: Frederik Lipfert on Unsplash

April 6, 2023 | Québec City, Capitale-Nationale, Québec

As human beings, connection to others is a huge part of our existence. Social media has made it possible to connect with others from all over the world if we want to.

It has been a wonderful tool for maintaining connections despite long distances. In the recent pandemic, social media allowed people to feel less isolated despite being in lockdowns for long periods. We could work from home and study from home, have virtual doctor’s appointments, and even have Zoom weddings. It seems like most things in life can carry on online when meeting in person is impossible. However, there is still something about meeting others in person that cannot be fulfilled through virtual meetings. 

Photo Credit: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

I organised two in-person events for youth in Québec City as part of my Community Liaison project. For both events, I received feedback from participants who were happy to participate in person, and that many, especially those who work from home, felt isolated and looked for events in-person to feel better. I have also talked to youth in my region about whether they prefer in-person or online interactions, and many agreed that the convenience of hopping on a call last minute from anywhere in the world does not quench their need for in-person connection. Many missed the pre-pandemic days when fewer things happened online. It is unsurprising to hear this feedback. During the pandemic, with the emergence of cottage core, where people yearned for pastoral life and being connected with nature without technology, there seemed to have been a rising need for experiencing life outside the internet. 

In my opinion, online communication can be a good thing if meeting in person is not an option. However, I believe it is not a long-term substitute for in-person communication. I have both friends and family members who live very far from me, so I have been keeping in touch with them online. Sometimes, years pass by without meeting in person. What keeps us connected are our shared experiences, or something of value that we see in our relationship that was not cultivated online. Also, even though I can manage relationships online, there is still a desire to meet my friends and family in person. 

“It would seem that in-person communication is becoming old-fashioned, but there is a strong need for it despite all the technological advancements that create newer and newer ways to interact online.”

It would seem that in-person communication is becoming old-fashioned, but there is a strong need for it despite all the technological advancements that create newer and newer ways to interact online. Online interaction focuses on verbal and written communication, but there is no option for physical touch. Sending a hug emoji is just not the same as a comforting hug when my friends are going through a hard time, and sometimes a shoulder pat can convey more than words can, especially when sometimes words fail me.

The way we connect and communicate is certainly changing, but the need for physical connection remains. Even without touch, being in the same room as someone else can create a sense of intimacy that being in the same Zoom meeting can’t. 

I am happy that there are more and more in-person events and gatherings happening around me and that it is becoming more and more the norm after years of social distancing due to the pandemic. 

Author
Flora Janos
Community Liaison (Québec City, Capitale-Nationale)
for Y4Y Québec