The Positive Effects of Social Media: Reconnecting with Old Friends
How Sharing a Post Led to Surprise Reunions
In an age where technology often receives criticism for creating distance between individuals, social media has proven to me over and over again that it is a powerful tool for fostering connections and rekindling relationships. One of the most profound positive effects of social media is its ability to bring people together, even after decades apart, by merely sharing a photo or a post with a location.
I recently experienced the powerful impact of social media firsthand. After posting a photo with a location tag of a restaurant I had just left, one of my cousins called and was at that restaurant. It is quite possible we walked behind him while he was eating at the bar. He paid his tab and headed to my sister’s ski house where I was staying for a long weekend. It was great to re-connect and discuss uphill skiing and a potential trip to Ireland. My cousin frequently skis where my sister skis and they see each other often now but being the one who moved away, I don’t see folks as frequently. It’s pretty awesome to be friends with your adult cousins. There is just something about that family relationship and the shared family experiences and culture that you no one else will ever understand.
After my cousin left, I checked Facebook, and I had received three comments from people I had not seen in 20 to 40 years. One was from a childhood friend I reconnected with through email and messages when I learned that her brother had tragically died by suicide a few years ago. Despite the sorrowful circumstances, our renewed communication brought comfort and support to both of us. When I posted that I was an hour away from her location, she messaged me immediately. Although we didn’t manage to meet in person, we exchanged phone numbers, taking one step closer to seeing each other face-to-face. We have common happy memories of time spent together as children and we have both experienced the loss of a family member from suicide. My experience has been that connection with people who have had an experience even remotely similar to yours makes you feel less alone, when that connection is a re-connection, it is even more meaningful because of the shared happy memories together.
Another delightful surprise came from a message from my childhood best friend, whom I hadn’t seen in 20 years. She reached out to remind me of the time she accompanied my family on a trip to New Hampshire. She remembered us skating on the pond and being terrified by the sound of the ice expanding thinking we were falling in. We jumped to the nearby snowbank for safety! Again, we didn’t connect face to face, but we shared a laugh about the memory
Lastly, I received a message from another family friend with whom I grew up skiing at a different mountain in New Hampshire. Our families had been very close for many years, and we used to go to her family’s ski house. The house had four “parent rooms” and a huge bunk room for all the kids. When we went up it every family was in charge of one meal for the weekend/week you were there. We ate an early breakfast at the house, made lunch and then we were all out the door to the mountain for the day, only returning after the lifts closed for a group dinner. All the kids — 15–20 sometimes — had to be up in the bunk room by a certain time so the parents could relax. Up in that bunk room was a hodge podge group of boys and girls ranging in ages from 7–17. Oh, the conversations that occurred in that room. It had been at least 35 years since I last saw any of those “kids”. When she reached out, we decided to meet up for dinner. It was an evening filled with reminiscing about our childhoods and the activities our families used to do together. I had the pleasure of meeting her husband, and she met my son, further entwining our lives once more.
These reconnections were not mere coincidences; they were made possible because of the post I put on Facebook. Social media has the remarkable ability to bridge the gap of time and distance, allowing us to reconnect with those who have played significant roles in our lives.
The positive effects of these reconnections are numerous. Firstly, they provide a sense of continuity and belonging. Reconnecting with old friends and family friends reminds us of where we come from and the shared experiences that have shaped us. It strengthens our sense of identity and reinforces the importance of our past relationships. Secondly, these reconnections offer emotional support and comfort. In my case, learning about my friend’s brother’s death was heartbreaking, but being able to offer and receive support through our renewed communication was immensely valuable, hopefully for both of us. Social media allows us to reach out to one another in times of need, providing a virtual shoulder to lean on. Thirdly, social media facilitates the rekindling of old friendships, which can lead to new opportunities and experiences. Meeting up with my family friend for dinner not only allowed us to reminisce about the past but also opened the door to future gatherings and shared activities. It is highly likely that my sister will see these people more frequently now since they all ski in the same area. These renewed relationships can enrich our lives in unexpected and meaningful ways. Furthermore, social media serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of our lives. The simple act of sharing a post can have a ripple effect, reaching people we hadn’t considered or expected. It highlights the value of maintaining connections and the impact we have on one another, even after many years apart.
While social media often receives criticism for its potential to create superficial relationships and distractions, — and there are many — it is essential to recognize its profound positive effects. The ability to reconnect with old friends and family friends, as I experienced, is a testament to the power of social media to foster genuine and meaningful connections. It is about how you use social media and what actions you take in seeking people out in person. It is about how you choose to use it. It is about what you choose to follow and more importantly what you choose to not follow. It is about how you choose to engage with it in ways that are beneficial to you. I once had a former college roommate contact me after seeing a photo of my son in London. She recognized the few and it turned out that her daughter was also there and very close by. The kids met up once, but my roommate and I have been in frequent communication since and are planning a vacation together this spring. My reconnections have led to lots of hugs and laughs. These reconnections provide a sense of continuity and more importantly new opportunities for enriching our lives in ways we may not have imagined. So, the next time you hesitate to share a post or a photo, remember the potential it holds to bring people back into your life and create lasting memories.
