UntitledAs young adults, we can't remember a life without the web. The web is young because it recently turned 25 years old. 25 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau changed the world forever. According to boutell.com, "In 1989, while working at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), they both made proposals for hypertext systems... And in late 1990 and early 1991, Tim Berners-Lee wrote the first web browser." These men started the technological phenomena, but as time passed, society began to become more advanced. People don't interact the same way with each other. Moving forward, the definition of a friend is lost due to the indecency of social media. The growth of social media has people wondering what a friend is because people don't understand the difference between interacting face to face, versus socializing on the web. As more and more social media sites hit the market, people are socializing without going out. The growth of social media causes people to think, act and interact differently, causing the meaning of friendship to be lost due to the growth of the web. Digital socialization contradicts real-world socialization. Socializing digitally makes people think differently about their friends. Today's generation is not as social as the past generation. People compete with each other based on the number of Facebook friends, thinking it's a popularity contest. The reality is that Facebook friends are not considered true friends. People don't talk to all their Facebook friends. People typically only talk to people they interact with in real life. Spending time with someone online weakens the friendship bond because it is not as intimate,...... middle of paper... ct. The Web has many uses, from social networks to online shopping. Currently, one of the most popular uses of the web is social networking. Social networks allow you to "connect with friends and fans" ("15 Most Popular Uses of the Web"). But, with the rapid growth of social networks, one wonders what a friend is. The meaning of friendship is lost. People don't communicate with their friends like they used to. Additionally, social media can be addictive and cause people to assume that friends they meet online are real friends. Additionally, people attached to social media interact differently with others. I have mixed feelings about the Internet and social media. I think it's important because it allows me to stay in touch with society. However, the speed at which social media is growing has really changed the true definition of a friend?