Teenagers are into new gadgets. They talk about the newest Iphone. They compare Androids. And even if they know nothing about the best specifications of these modern devices, they buy them for the polished look or the fame it would cause them, or the thrill it would bring in their teenage lives. The young ones are so into the technology that even their social lives are sometimes dependent on them.

These young people are confused about themselves. They do not know what they want and who they really are. They wanted to belong to a group but not all of them make it. There are always the ones who are considered outcasts. And these lonely bunch resort to technology to form another realm where people could accept them because their flaws are invisible. This is when virtual relationships become a hit. The anonymity and lack of physicality is very appealing for those who do not belong to the actual world.

Virtual relationships, whether romantic or platonic and social is a clear compensation for bad interpersonal relationships. A teen could not join a famous girl group in school because she’s short and chubby and they are Barbie dolls. So she joins an online group where she chooses a super sexy avatar and starts conversations as if she really is that avatar. She gains the confidence that her pears rob from her because of her physical appearance since no one can really see her in the net. There are risks and dangers in this type of connection but for those who are socially dependent on the virtual world, it is hard to see the risks. This is why parents should always be alert on what their teens are doing in front of the computer or on their cell phones.

Social networks are also very popular these days specially Facebook and Twitter. This form of virtual connection is a compensation for those people who are far from each other and still wants to connect. In Asia, a lot of people create a group for people with the same last name. This is the place where they could find long lost relatives and catch up. Some sites promote groups for school batch mates and this is where the reunion happens. Some teens just could not move on from high school and long to know whatever happened to their classmates. The cyber world is a good way to still feel close to people who are far away from you. This is also a good way to meet new people and find friends. It gives an opportunity to know people who live 50 States away and a chance to admire the culture of people who are half-way around the world.