Robert Christian’s article “How Social Media Relationships Can Be Meaningful,” shows us is that authenticity is relative, like everything. And I don't think it's as simple as a continuum with authentic on one side and inauthentic on the other. Each person's life experience is formed differently. Someone representing his/her "true self" faithfully over a medium known for the glamour shots only, might feel really authentic to someone who doesn't draw a big difference between catching up with people they know over the phone or over social. (Harder for me to draw that same line between people they know and people they don't know, but that's a personal bias.) In the age of instant gratification and game-like feedback mechanisms, social media has excelled at making us feel like we are making progress in relationships (even if we aren't), more so than real relationships might do.
You might have an in-person experience with someone who lies to your face, or doesn't let on how they really feel. Meanwhile, you have this social media account that (seems to) present everything, warts and all. Without making a judgment on which is more rewarding in the end, I think we can say that the online experience felt more authentic. Was it? I don't know.
You might have an in-person experience with someone who lies to your face, or doesn't let on how they really feel. Meanwhile, you have this social media account that (seems to) present everything, warts and all. Without making a judgment on which is more rewarding in the end, I think we can say that the online experience felt more authentic. Was it? I don't know.
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