Growing up, my friends were my neighbors, my classmates, my teammates, and my college roommates. Now when I think about the friends I have today, I think how many of them would not have been possible without the Internet and social media. In fact, my whole day would have been completely different if these friendships didn’t exist.
A brunch and poolside fun with blends (blog friends) followed by a volleyball game with perfect strangers is how I spent my day. I met my lovely blends through the awesome network of Cleveland bloggers and through one of them I was connected with a group of perfect strangers who needed another girl for their volleyball team.My day was amazing and it’s hard to think that I could have been spending my day doing something entirely different had I not met these people. These friends mean more than just another person to talk to and hang out with. These friends mean that society is changing with what is viewed as an “acceptable” way to meet friends. Many people are now turning to Internet dating sites to start a relationship, so what’s wrong with turning to social media to start friendships? Nothing. Through social media I have had friendships go beyond the Internet and into real life. Through social media I have had these friends affect my life in ways I never thought possible. Through social media I’ve met best friends, enjoyed the Cleveland community, met people with similar interests, and so much more. I can’t wait to see what social media does in my life in the future!
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About the author: Katie Heddleston is the Registered Dietitian and author behind Healthy Heddleston. She is the gluten-free half marathoner tweeting at @KatieHeddleston.
