Some people believe that the internet has brought people closer together by making the world smaller. Others disagree, claiming that the internet has made people and communities more isolated because they no longer need to leave home and interact with others.

The internet has greatly impacted our lives, especially in the way we interact with others. While some think

this

technology has shrunk the world and made it easier to establish relationships, others counter that it has in fact led many people to disengage. As both viewpoints have

merits

Suggestion

merit

, I tend to believe that everyone has a duty to balance his or her on- and offline socialization. The internet’s ability to connect people from all corners of the Earth is certainly a positive development. Businesses can reach more customers, strangers can meet online to share ideas, languages, and other useful information, and, most importantly, people are now more cognizant of others’ struggles and are able to help with a click of a button.

For example

, when crises occur,

such

as earthquakes, typhoons, or terrorist attacks, people can send financial and emotional support via e-transfers, message boards, and social network awareness campaigns. Rescue and rebuilding efforts can thereby be sped up and people can feel a sense of accomplishment and philanthropy. Clearly,

this

brings people together in real and meaningful ways. That being said, many people consider clicking a button on

some

one or some or every or all without specification

any

website an empty gesture, one as simple as purchasing a pair of jeans. Of course, there is no denying that financial aid has real impacts, but the feeling associated with

this

action actually serves to distance people from others because it is too easy and requires minimal effort. Meeting someone face-to-face,

on the other hand

, demands a person’s time and energy, and it requires a motivation. The less people engage in these sorts of meetings, the less inclined they become to do so, even locally, resulting in a withdrawal to one’s comfort zone and a growing sense of others as virtual realities that can be ignored merely by going offline.

Therefore

, the optimal solution would be to spend quality time both in cyberspace and the real world. One who can do

this

effectively can thereby have the best of both worlds.