Today’s kids and teenagers have never lived in a world without the internet. They’re hyper-connected to real-life and virtual friends via social media, online games, numerous chat apps, email and more. Yet, “making friends is both harder and easier than it was when we were young,” says Amanda Farough, a writer, editor and mom of four who writes often about the intersection of gaming and parenting.
“When we were kids, we had our home phone and if we were fortunate enough to have a computer in our homes, we would eventually use messaging apps like ICQ, MSN Messenger and AOL IM,” says Farough. “Regardless, we were limited by our neighborhoods almost entirely. If we went to school together, we could maybe have a chance at being friends.”
Compare that to 2021, when “kids can talk whenever they want to through their various devices, but they’re never truly away from one…
