The document reflects on the evolution of friendships from in-person interactions to online connections, highlighting statistics about social media usage, particularly Facebook. It illustrates how people now prioritize virtual communication over traditional methods like phone calls and face-to-face meetings. The piece questions the impact of digital friendships on real-life relationships and the choices individuals make in connecting with others.

1. Once upon a time, we were friends with school mates and neighborsPhoto credit: {leah}-Flickr

2. Or the girl next doorPhoto credit: {leah}-Flickr

3. We used to play board gamesPhoto credit: frozenchipmunk-Flickr

4. Or play outside and dance in the rainPhoto credit: HanaS.-Flickr

5. We were awed by the simplicity of lifePhoto credit: Mugley-Flickr

6. We were once fascinated by things we could touch, feel and explore.Photo credit: LauraDeu-Flickr

7. But now, time has changedPhoto credit: FarhadFarhad-Flickr

8. “57% of people talk to people more online, than they do in real life”-www.onlineschools.orgPhoto credit: tia_maria-Flickr

9. “Facebook profiles are like belly buttons: Everybody’s got one”- Jolie O’Dell, www.mashable.comPhoto credit: Jay Harrison-FlickrPhoto credit: mmotrafficde4-Flickr

10. “1 in 13 people on Earth are active Facebook users.”-www.onlineschools.orgPhoto credit: Jamey Howard-Flickr

11. More than 100 million active users access Facebook through their mobile devices-Mark Donovan, ComscorePhoto credit:Rakan Al-Hamrani-Flickr

12. People using Facebook on mobile devices are twice as more active than non-mobile users-Mark Donovan, ComscorePhoto credit: carloszardoya-Flickr

13. 48% of 18-34 year olds check Facebook right when they wake up…-www.onlineschools.orgPhoto credit: Alex Bramwell-Flickr

14. Creating social networks in a virtual world are now more important to us than spending physical time with friendsPhoto credit: carloszardoya-Flickr

15. Spectrumofonlinefriendship: whether it’s passive interest in reading your blogs or having an investment in you by caring about your success- we are connected. Photo credit: designsbykari-Flickr

16. But before we connect, how do I find you?Photo credit: Greenwich Letterpress-Flickr

17. That cute guy in the fourth row of English class that you’ve never spoken to? We’re friends now, virtually that is. Photo credit: macallee.king- Flickr

18. Whether it’s to friends or family,how often do we use our phone to call someone?Photo credit: Arabarra-Flickr

19. Would we rather tweet to the virtual world instead? Photo credit: carloszardoya-Flickr

20. It seems as though we use our phones for everything EXCEPT calling. Photo credit: miriness-Flickr

21. Emailing has never been easier, thanks to handhelds such as BlackBerrys. Photo credit: carloszardoya-Flickr

22. Why call when you can text? It’s faster, easier and more convenient.Photo quote: One Gentleman- Flickr

23. How do you choose your friends?Photo credit: tdub303-Flickr

24. Do you spend most of your time in the virtual or the real world?Photo credit: completelyknown-Flickr

25. Created by Ishita BiswasPosted May 20, 2011Photo credit: ngairenaran-Flickr