In the age of social media, we have expanded our social networks through different platforms. Some connections are strong and we can feel close to a person, while others are weak. In the article by Lara Otte she talks about making real connections through social media. Social media allows people to have more opportunities to connect to others personally. Sometimes these connections can just be superficial, but it can also come with a negative impact on ourselves, Such as getting trolled or bullied by random people. Otte concludes that more apps are becoming available where we can make true connections with others.

There are multiple ways that the Media Multiplexity theory can be used to understand relational ties that are made through social media. According to Griffin, “Instead, what differentiated strong ties from weak ties was the number of media the pair employed. Greater tie strength seemed to drive greater numbers of media used.” (161) This means that the more ways that someone has to connect to another the stronger their relationship is. Additionally, “Haythornthwaite would say that the launch of Facebook created latent ties, or “connection[s] available technically, even if not yet activated socially.”” (164) There are multiple opportunities to connect with others on social media. Another good point is that, “the content of communication differs by tie strength rather than medium.” (165). So the way you speak depends on how close you are to another, it does not depend solely on what media you use to communicate.

In all, we can make great connections with others online. It is something that takes time and effort to form. We have a multitude of ways to create new connections. There are so many platforms like, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that we can use to connect with new people. Forming a relationship on just one platform is a pretty weak tie, but the more we connect with that person the stronger the relationship is. What we talk about can also strengthen the ties we make with one another. For example if someone likes star wars that can be a talking point. That can be a way to grow closer to one another because of a shared interest. If you talk about something that one person does not like then the conversation will not go that far. As a result of that, you will not be able to really connect with the other person. If the situation was like this then it is just a superficial relationship. Additionally, we often just like photos or make a comment on some. Some times people get the idea that this is forming a connection with a person when it really is not. When you do this, you are not really trying to get to know the person. Finally, when you first start talking to someone online, it kind of seems awkward at first. This goes with any social interaction but sometimes it is harder online. Although the more you start to form ties, the topics can change to something you both mutually like. Meaning that your ties to the other person have strengthened.