3 ms·

I went college in the 80s, so social networking on the net wasn't a thing. (Well, mostly... I did manage to meet one of my best friends in college chatting on

I went college in the 80s, so social networking on the net wasn't a thing. (Well, mostly... I did manage to meet one of my best friends in college chatting on the Vax before I ever met her in person.) I'm definitely an introvert, and not having social networking at that age was probably a good thing for me. I don't feel like I missed anything not having it, but I'm happy to have it now, especially when the people I used to know are scattered very widely geographically.

iamatworknow 9y ago
Oh sure. I'm not saying there aren't benefits to having it as an adult, but it was very easy to become overly reliant on the social aspect of the internet like that at a susceptible age, I guess. I think what compounded my issue in particular is that I grew up in a rural area with my own computer/internet connection ever since I was probably 11 or 12 years old. It wasn't like I could drive 15 miles to meet other kids in person, and I didn't have family that would facilitate such a thing, so outside of school hours and until I got my drivers license the internet was all there was for interacting with others my age. Then when college came and more in-person opportunities opened up, I more or less was stuck in that same mindset and squandered them.