Josie and the Podcast - Are online friends real?

Are online friends real?

02/15/23 • 44 min

1 Listener

Josie and the Podcast

The people that you meet online aren't real. It's not lasting. It's not impactful. Blah, blah blah.

We’re constantly surrounded by people who invalidate or don't believe that friendships or connections online count as real. But if you’re like me, I’ve met so, so many of my friends and colleagues on Twitter, in seminars, and in other online spaces.

So today I want to talk about the intersection of friendship, community, networking, and how that shows up online and in all of life, as well as how this translates into our approaches to marketing and communications.

In this episode, we dive into my early struggles with friendships and being bullied — plus how hard it is to make friends as adults. We also discuss the increased levels of loneliness and depression, the difference between friendship and parasocial relationships, and some tips on maintaining these bonds, both in person and online.

Finally, I'll dig into how all this matters to our work in higher ed marketing and communications.

Please note: This episode touches on topics like depression. Take care while listening.

For all notes of this episode head to: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/are-online-friends-real/

Connect with Josie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieandthepodcast

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieATPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Website: www.josieahlquist.com

Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in the episode:

University FM

Campus Sonar

Open Eye Crystals

Depression - World Health Organization

Finding My Footing

Loneliness in America: How the Pandemic Has Deepened an Epidemic of Loneliness and What We Can Do About It (Harvard)

The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A Post-Pandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults (Cigna)

How to Be a Better Friend By Tara Parker-Pope (NYTimes)

Why Making Friends in Midlife Is So Hard By Katharine Smyth (The Atlantic)

Asking People about IRL Friends on Twitter

The Friendship Report 2020 by Snapchat

How many hours does it take to make a friend? (SAGE)

Epic Rap Battles of History - Youtube

Katie Spencer Johnson / Calle Goodwin Twitter thread

Jackbox Game

‘I was lacking deeper connection’: can online friends be the answer to loneliness? By Yasmina Floyer (The Guardian)

Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and Keep- Friends - Dr. Marisa G. Franco

Dunbar's number: you can only maintain 150 relationships

How to Make Friends As an Adult By Emily Burns (The Cut)

Dr. Miriam Kirmayer

Vina App

Peanut App

Bumble Friendship App<...

The people that you meet online aren't real. It's not lasting. It's not impactful. Blah, blah blah.

Finally, I'll dig into how all this matters to our work in higher ed marketing and communications.

Please note: This episode touches on topics like depression. Take care while listening.

For all notes of this episode head to: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/are-online-friends-real/

Connect with Josie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieandthepodcast

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieATPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Website: www.josieahlquist.com

Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in the episode:

University FM

Campus Sonar

Open Eye Crystals

Depression - World Health Organization

Finding My Footing

Loneliness in America: How the Pandemic Has Deepened an Epidemic of Loneliness and What We Can Do About It (Harvard)

The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A Post-Pandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults (Cigna)

How to Be a Better Friend By Tara Parker-Pope (NYTimes)

Why Making Friends in Midlife Is So Hard By Katharine Smyth (The Atlantic)

Asking People about IRL Friends on Twitter

The Friendship Report 2020 by Snapchat

How many hours does it take to make a friend? (SAGE)

Epic Rap Battles of History - Youtube

Katie Spencer Johnson / Calle Goodwin Twitter thread

Jackbox Game

‘I was lacking deeper connection’: can online friends be the answer to loneliness? By Yasmina Floyer (The Guardian)

Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and Keep- Friends - Dr. Marisa G. Franco

Dunbar's number: you can only maintain 150 relationships

How to Make Friends As an Adult By Emily Burns (The Cut)

Dr. Miriam Kirmayer

Vina App

Peanut App

Bumble Friendship App<...

Previous Episode

#RelationshipGoals with Joy and John Hoffman

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I wanted to incorporate some love, light, and laughter into the show. And I couldn't think of a better duo to do that with than Joy and John Hoffman.Dr. Joy Hoffman is a consultant and trainer with a focus on advancing equitable, inclusive, and socially-just practices. She previously served in higher education for 24 years, and now works full-time as a consultant.

Dr. John Hoffman is the president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College. John previously served in a variety of academic and student affairs roles.

Together truly represent the very best in role modeling, mentorship, and coaching for literally hundreds of others, including me.

Josie sits down with the Hoffmans in this cheerful episode to chat about Joy’s move to consulting work, John’s recent transition to President of Bemidji State College, how partners & spouses of Presidents can support them in that role, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, celebrating boundaries, and more about how this couple is just total #RelationshipGoals.

For all resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/relationshipgoals

Connect with Josie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josieahlquist/

Instagram Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/josieandthepodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

Twitter Podcast: https://twitter.com/JosieATPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Website: www.josieahlquist.com

Email Josie: [email protected]

Connect with John & Joy Hoffman:

Mentioned in the episode:

Next Episode

Leadership isn’t a popularity contest with Teresa Valerio Parrot

Teresa is the Founder, Principal, and “Resident President Whisperer” at TVP Communications. With over two decades of work in higher ed, she has only known a career focused on making higher ed more relatable, presidents' and boards' decisions understandable, and student and faculty successes known.

Teresa and Josie catch up in this episode, diving into what to prioritize on social media, why leaders should move away from wanting to be liked as one of the major metrics for success, taking care of your people and yourself, reclaiming thought leadership as a strategy, as well as mentorship.

Wonder what kind of dog breed best describes Teresa - and Josie? Make sure to tune in and see if you agree.

Josie and the Podcast is a production of Dr. Josie Ahlquist and is produced by University FM.

For all resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.josieahlquist.com/podcast/teresa-valerio-parrot/

Connect with Josie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieahlquist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josieahlquist

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosieATPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJosieAhlquist/

Website: www.josieahlquist.com

Email: [email protected]