The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 Newsletters Latest print issue
The Daily Tar Heel

TO THE EDITOR:

Thursday’s column “Please bring back the old media” (April 22) vocalized a kind of reactionary opinion that I have heard a number of times. Nostalgia for an imaginary time when our friendships were not tampered with by “new social media” is a common thought around campus.

I do not remember a time like that. The majority of the friendships on campus were formed in our new media saturated world. Perhaps more of my peers than I realize feel that all their friendships are hollow and excuses for self-promotion, but personally, I have made a lot of sincere human connection because of social media.

I met my roommate through Facebook and he has become one of my closest friends. The organization and coordination of events in the real world is made infinitely easier by Facebook. Simply finding a car ride home was difficult 30 years ago. Real human interaction is aided by new media, not hindered by it.

There is this concept that contact in person is somehow replaced by texting and Facebook; this is patently false. No one decides against going to a party or to dinner with friends because they would rather stay in and refresh Facebook. I do not know what “old media” there was that created more sincere friendships than new ones, but I suspect it does not exist.

Stirling Little
Freshman
Journalism & Mass Communication

 

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