ABSTRACT
We must take this criticism seriously. But we must also recognize that while authentic face-to-face communication is reduced, new digital media have created many new forms of constant connection between people (Roberts and Koliska 2014). Families and friends constantly update each other on location, news, arts, and personal moments through presence apps and social media. Video telephony helps remote friends stay close. Some people meet in virtual worlds. Scholars wonder whether such short-term, feel-good connections come at the cost of true friendship. e social augmentation hypothesis states that this is not the case. e use of new media augments people’s total social resources, in particular, existing strong ties.
