Because of the fact we were in different states now if we didn’t have a source to communicate we would evidently end up falling out of touch with each other shifting Emily’s spot within the Dunbar which could eventually land in the outer rings because of the disconnection. However, because of social media Emily and I are still able to have an emotional connection that we’re both able to maintain hence we do lose the physical connection that our friendship was also developed on.   

Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that social media does take away physical? connection within a friendship, and to a point I do agree with them. Social media does take away an aspect of our friendship, the physical connection one retains in a friendship. Dunbar best points out how keeping “face-to -face friendships strong [is from] the nature of shared experiences” (Konnikova 4).  Having those shared experiences are able to help amplify a friendship and social media isn’t able to create the same experience of laughing together compared to watching a funny video separately instead. For example, moving into college and meeting your roommate on social media. It can be good to try and connect and find common interests to see how the room may function. I have friends who have had the experience where they thought the pairing would work out well but when they actually met at move in things fell apart. Social media does hold up a barrier since “on the internet, you can pull the plug and walk away,” (Konnikova 7) you don’t have to be your true authentic self even though we say we try to put out ourselves we all internally put up a front. 

However, there are exceptions to everything especially when it comes to connections, not everybody puts up as much of a front on social media. We could call out some politicians or other infamous figures for examples. But Chen brings up a better example through Megan’s friendship with David Abitbol which started over opposing views through social media but their relationship was still respectful and friendly over social media even with their different opinions. When Megan finally was able to meet David “[Their] in-person interaction resemble [their] twitter interactions,” (Chen 18). There are times where social media interactions are still able to transfer over when meeting face-to- face for some it may even be able to amplify the connections. 

  1. While going back and looking at my habits of using transition phrase I see a pattern of using them only in a contrast sense and I use more of the frequently used transition phases that some to mind when thinking of transition phrases. They were at least used through my essay and they also did connect the two paragraphs seemly as if they were one but the two focused on different claims.
  2. The But highlighted I could us a different transition more as an example rather as it seeming like a contrast instead, I could have used “For instance Chen…” or ” Consider Chen’s example of…” Using But as the transition phrase sounds as if I were contrasting what the author is saying while I am actually trying to use them as an example. Using these two transition phrase in contrast shows that I am using the author as an example rather than countering I could also change the last However and change it into a concession transition phrase such as ” although it is true, there are exceptions…” or use ” Although” on its own. This would give the essay variety of words, and will also better help demonstrate what I want my readers to understand.