Can You Hear Me?

CONCLUSION

Something basic is changing about the way we form relationships in the digital world. Will the next generations be able to invest in online connections the same way that everyone now invests in “real” face-to-face relationships?

As I’ve mentioned, the nature of trust in the virtual world has changed forever. Trust is much more fragile, though perhaps easier to establish initially. But the big difference comes when something threatens the trust. In face-to-face relationships where there is trust, one party may do something to screw up, causing friction, anger, and even a bit of mistrust to creep in. But if the connection is strong enough, the issue will get thrashed out, the perpetrator will apologize, and trust will be restored. Indeed, ...