The Importance Of Long Distance Friendship

Long distance friendships are ideal in today’s world, especially with the help of advanced technology. People are able to fly across the world in less than a couple of weeks, even contact each other in a couple of seconds. Being in a long distance friendship creates a strong bond between two individuals because of the will to maintain the friendship through social media, the commitment and dedication, and the duration of the relationship. Typically people associate long distance friendships with not being able to withstand but social media interactions decrease that chance.

Maintaining friendship through social media

Technology constantly evolves and allows friends to interact within seconds from text messaging, video chatting or calling. As

As stated by Johnson, “Personal dedication is ‘‘the desire of an individual to maintain or improve the quality of his or her relationship for the joint benefit of the participants’’ (p. 595). If one person constantly puts in the effort towards a relationship with none from the other individual, then they both do not benefit from the friendship. To have a strong relationship with someone, both individuals have to know the other person is dedicated to the growth and advancement. The dedications of both parties provides an opportunity to make a long distance friendship unbeatable. Johnson said, “LD friendships provide an opportunity, then, to explore commitment in relationships in which few structural restrictions exist.” The minimal amount of restrictions does not provide any guidelines or rules towards the maintenance of the

LONG DISTANCE FRIENDSHIPS5 friendship, making it flexible to build the strong foundation of the bond. No input or pressures from outside sources, also creates an encouraging atmosphere for the friendship’s expectations to last. Johnson expressed, “LD friendships offer college students a way to experience

Rusbult stated, “The longer duration of LD friendships may mean individuals have more invested in LD friendships, providing incentive for them to continue” (Rusbult, 1980).

A friendship is based on the amount invested in a person and the memories that are surfaced when they are together. Long distance friendships are meant for individuals with years of history together because without the past experiences to connect them, then they would not have any incentive of building on the friendship. Past experiences that develop a friendship are being there for heartbreaks, whenever there are family troubles, helping with their anxiety and etc. To be there for someone in those times of need is to say that no matter what horrid situation occurs, the friend will always stand by them no matter what. Rawlins said, “However, indirect investments, such as shared memories, may be more powerful, as the friends involved are possibly important in one’s life history” (Rawlins, 1994). To meet someone a couple of