Friendships aren’t what they used to be, it’s a common complaint these days. Instead of speaking, individuals in restaurants stare at their phones. We have become more concerned with our public image than with being present with one another as a result of selfie culture. In numerous ways, today’s friendships are more conditional than they were in the past.

The internet connection has become more important than ever in recent years. So, what is the nature of a friendship that develops through time? Even if internet engagement isn’t ruining friendships, many people are concerned that the way we choose and nurture our friends through digital technology encourages poor social connections.

While it may be tempting to put their phones away and send them outside with a skipping rope, doing so would likely exclude them from an important community. And while spending every waking hour hunched over a smartphone isn’t a recipe for happiness, neither is spending every waking moment writing letters.