Why is communication between people gradually turning from real to virtual? Communication using a computer is much easier. virtual world and online communication has become so popular that many people sometimes forget about real communication. A real meeting puts people in a certain framework, obliges them to direct emotional contact, and the Network is always at hand.

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Photo gallery: Virtual world and communication on the Internet

Press a couple of keys - and you are already in the center of communication. If you want to confirm your importance, you open a page in Odnoklassniki, see how many people have visited it, and make sure that you are in demand. In addition, just sitting and working (if the profession is related to a computer) is boring, and in order to structure time, people go to the virtual world and communicate on the Internet, where it is always safe, there are no obligations, you can imagine yourself as anyone, fool others, and even get an emotional drive from it.

What are the pitfalls of the Internet?

The World Wide Web of the virtual world and communication on the Internet is addictive and causes almost drug addiction from their users. People have an obsessive desire to enter the Internet, but once in it, a person does not find the strength to leave web pages. There are two main forms of the virtual world and communication on the Internet: chat addiction - from communication in chat rooms, on forums, teleconferences, in email mode. And web addiction - from new doses of information (virtual surfing on sites, portals, etc.). And yet, the majority of Internet addicts are hooked on services related to communication. According to statistics, the most attractive characteristics of such contacts are anonymity (86%), accessibility (63%), security (58%) and ease of use (37%). Such a network is needed to receive social support, sexual satisfaction, the possibility of creating a virtual hero (creating a new self).

What is the essence of information dependence?

It is also called web addiction. Usually, people who are related by type of activity to the processing and search for information fall ill with it (journalists are the first at risk). They feel a constant lack of news, discomfort from the realization that at this moment something is happening somewhere, but they are not aware. The understanding that it is impossible to cover everything disappears. The intellect has no limit: after one thought comes another, a third... In order to stop in time, you need to have in the middle the so-called cumulative sting - an alloy of willpower, spirit and purpose. It is formed in any activity. This is the ability to gather right moment, concentrate and direct all forces to the implementation of a certain task. Information sprays attention, the sense of time is lost, chewing gum is thrown to the brain, which it mechanically chews. So that information does not eventually destroy consciousness, a mosaic of perception is necessary. I read a certain thought, was inspired by it and implemented it. You should not process all thoughts in a row, but only those that you liked. And, if possible, put them into practice, and not just scroll through your head.

A person needs to be assessed from the outside, getting confirmation of whether he is following the right path in life, comparing himself with others. In the social network, the user starts his personal page - a beautiful picture - self-presentation. Children, husbands, rest are paraded, wishes, congratulations, poems are written to each other, assessments are collected, evidence of their beauty and happy life. Thus, the need for confirmation is satisfied self-importance. However, communication in social networks is symbolic. Few people respond to the offer of a real meeting, and if the meeting does take place, it often turns out to be not as bright and beautiful as in the virtual world.

How is online communication different from the real one?

What are the signs of internet addiction?

Most eloquent: obsessive desire to check one's email, ignoring physiological needs for the sake of virtual surfing (forgot to eat, go to the toilet), being on the Web is much longer than that the time that was originally planned (I wanted to go for half an hour, but was delayed for two). Experienced computer addicts forget about their family, friends, official duties. Consequences - divorce, dismissal from work, academic failure. Briefly leaving the Web, they experience a kind of "hangover" - an extremely dense stream of consciousness and a sense of anxiety, an irresistible desire to get back into the virtual world and communicate on the Internet.

What mental disorders can be provoked by the virtual world and communication on the Internet?

An adult person seems to be likened to a seven-year-old child who wants to get what he wants right now. Another popular mental disorder is Munchausen's syndrome. It is based on the simulation of illness in order to attract attention and sympathy. Since no one will demand a medical card from you on the Internet, playing sick is easy.

Who is most at risk of becoming a computer addict?

How does the virtual world affect children's health and psyche?

A child up to 7-10 years old should develop physically - in the game, movement. After a ten-year milestone, the body's forces are concentrated on the development of metabolism, the heart, lungs, and other important organs. And only after 14 years the acceptance shifts to spirituality. Small children chained to a monitor are static. Instead of the physical progress expected at this age, there is an intellectual load - as a result, modern children grow old early. At 13-14 years old, vascular sclerosis, atherosclerosis and early cancers already appear today. At ten years old, a child can speak three languages ​​​​and the basics computer programming, but fails the banal test for physical development: walk exactly one floorboard and hit the ball at the target.

The virtual world and communication on the Internet is credited with a lot of merit as a means of learning and broadening one's horizons. Perhaps, with the right dosage, it will help raise children with superpowers?

Parents are touched by watching how their three-year-old child manages a laptop. In fact, all these skills are formed at a superficial level and will not be useful in any way. adult life. It is easier for adults to put a child at a computer and occupy it for a while than to form other values ​​in it. The idea that the computer develops and is necessary for the school is nothing more than self-justification.

USA experimented.: children from the age of 5 were taught externally, and by the age of 12 they graduated full course secondary education. Their lives have been followed for many years. It turned out that none of them had a fate: they were intellectually brilliant, but strong-willed and emotional components were absent. They didn't know who they were or what they wanted. After all, talent is 99% work and the ability to organize oneself, and only 1% depends on abilities.

Is it possible to derive rules for safe behavior for children at the computer?

Until the age of 10, a child lives in unity with the world; for him, the authority of his parents is absolute. After ten, children begin to separate themselves from the world around them, to wonder if everything is so good in this life, to be interested in: what is the past, what is the future. This is the age when you can join the computer. The correct dosage is no more than two hours a day: forty-five minutes at the computer, then a break for rest. You can not use the computer as a means of encouragement. It is important not to shout, not to turn off the equipment from the network, but to develop self-control in the child. Set an alarm for certain time and put it side by side - so the young user will form a sense of responsibility for their actions. Often, parents themselves create dependence on the computer. After all, how is it now free time a young family: the father plays some kind of “shooter”, and the mother communicates with her friends in Odnoklassniki. What is left for the child? Also sit down at the computer.

What problems with women's health can turn into a passion for the computer, the virtual world and communication on the Internet?

Infertility and miscarriages are the companions of women chained to a monitor. Hypodynamia plus congestion in the pelvic area opens the gate to all kinds of inflammation. Often, information from the Web causes neurosis in women, especially for young mothers who are looking for all the answers to their questions on the Internet. Today, all sorts of “mom” forums are popular, where other, equally unenlightened mothers (it would be useful for some to check the state of mental health) anonymously give advice to their “colleagues”. Selected Recommendations reminiscent of dangerous experiments on their own children. Many anonymous people intimidate gullible interlocutors, putting their children in absentia terrible diagnoses. Mothers begin to wind themselves up, a mass neurosis is formed.

Popular today virtual internet consultations. Without leaving your computer, you can find out your diagnosis, get detailed description treatment and immediately order medicines in an online pharmacy. How safe are these methods of diagnosis and treatment? appeared today new type Internet users - cyberchondriacs - are ardent fans of the Internet, collecting expert advice about their health from almost all over the Earth. They are sure that they have terrible diseases that are nothing more than a figment of their imagination.

What criteria can be used to distinguish an Internet resource trustworthy, from dubious?

There are several signs or “stop words” that can give away an unscrupulous online medical resource. This is everything related to "energy-information" - information matrices, water, aura, biofield, wave gene, astral projections, bioresonance or "diagnosis of 40 doctors in half an hour", the removal of toxins and everything connected with them.

Today, the Internet provides ample opportunities for those who are looking for a second half. A lot of dating sites offer partners for every taste and color. How is the virtual search for love different from the real one?

Correspondence can be encouraging, they say, here he is - the one and only. But a meeting in real life often ends in disappointment. But on the Internet, these are just words with nothing behind them. The exchange of energies, attempts to understand oneself, others and this world - they are untenable in correspondence communication. If in life a person speaks about love with all his essence, then on the Internet it is just letters and symbols.

What gaps in life do we compensate for by going virtual?

To feel the fullness of being, a person must manifest himself in several areas of life. In creation, work - some kind of constructive activity for the benefit of others, in caring for the body, which is being improved and pays handsomely for the fact that it is healthy and taken care of. In spirituality - the personality that we acquire, the meanings we create, biographies. In communication with other people, which enriches and gives feedback: you live, you are recognized. And if we have not made this communication real, have not invested our emotions, our care in someone, we are left alone with our fear of death. Because before death, it doesn’t matter what doctoral dissertations you wrote, it’s important who will be next to you so that you don’t feel lonely.

How to get rid of virtual dependency?

Life is arranged on the energy balance "take-give". On the Internet, we give our energy to no one knows where and why. The net sucks it up like a sponge. life force we are given emotions, but not superficial, but aimed at acting. And emotions depend on the mood: "there are three of us." The mindset child needs to come together, put our emotions together, come up with some idea and get a fountain of energy to implement it. A person is able to throw himself into other areas of life, where there will be a lot of emotions, and he simply will not remember the computer. Energy is buried in real affairs, real action and real connections. And the Internet can become an assistant in their search. Use the virtual world as a tool to expand your interests in real life (get acquainted - met). Nothing can replace the luxury of communication, but not virtual, but real.

Along with our world, there is another world in parallel - the Internet. It wages its own wars, has its own virtual currency. People also live on the Internet with their fictitious names - logins and. Everything here is like in real life, only virtually. And as in every life on the Internet, there are relationships between people. The truth is also virtual.

Internet users find their friends here. They meet new people, communicate. It also happens that they start virtual novels. At first glance, it may seem strange that there are some feelings between strangers. Is it really possible to love a person whom you have never seen, heard, never touched?

It turns out that everything is possible in life... For example, people get to know each other on forums or social networks. Discussing a film that has just been released, a person may find that someone else shares his views. At further communication people soon realize that they have similar outlooks on life.

After a while, communication between people is transferred to chat rooms. Everything is extremely simple here. A chat conversation is similar to a live conversation, with the only difference being that your interlocutor may be at a great distance from you.

If the user cannot find friends and acquaintances on forums and chats, he registers on dating sites. Here, among thousands of people like him, lonely and looking for companionship, you can find a mistress, lover, friend or girlfriend. Also, such services allow you to search for a soul mate according to specified criteria: hair color, eye color, height, and so on...

People who have feelings for each other often use ICQ (Viber, etc.). It allows you to exchange emoticons, send photos. ICQ makes communication between people simple and convenient.

From the outside, it may seem silly to fall in love with a person you do not know, it may seem that a person’s feelings are directed at an imaginary image. And for real feelings is important real person, not its virtual replacement. After all, our virtual prince in a white Mercedes, with a strand of black hair and blue eyes in reality, it may turn out to be a fourteen-year-old bespectacled man from a neighboring entrance.

The Internet also allows you to experience the pleasure of virtual love". At first glance it looks wild, but this is the reality of our life. Many people, due to lack or total absence real "lovemaking", completely surrender to the temptation of virtual relationships.

In the Middle Ages, people sent each other anonymous letters and notes. Flirted with strangers. Now everything is the same, only the possibilities are different. In the end, after "virtual lovemaking" no one will force you to get married?

By the way, what is the difference between "making love" on the phone from virtual ones? Nothing!

Communication of a person on dating sites can be very useful for a person. After all, if he is closed in himself, unsociable, then in real life he has a lack of communication. Virtual life compensates for this. After some time, a person will transfer his manners of virtual behavior to real life. And instead of yesterday's nerd, we will see a macho who needs only a couple of phrases to drag the girl into bed.

And if a person spends all the time at work? , stays up late. How can he find a life partner? Only the Internet is the way out of this situation. It's so simple, he came to the robot, exchanged a few words with friends, sent a smiley face to his beloved ...

But online dating also comes with risks. New drug addicts began to turn to psychotherapists - people who became Internet addicts. They can no longer go a day without Internet communication.

Flirting in a chat with a man for a while is normal. But if it turns into an obsession...

Sometimes people seem to live on the Internet, the events of the real world cease to interest them. A person dies real person, it is completely immersed in the virtual world. It should always be remembered that real life much more interesting virtual. No communication can replace a living person. Progress has gone very far, but people's feelings have never changed their form. A person loves a person, not his virtual image.

Hello. I usually don't repost articles on my sites. This is unusual case, because there is no need to change and add something. I was struck by the author's insight. What is written in this article cannot but be alarming. Since I am a supporter conscious life. And here the side has touched, our future is children. What they will be is our responsibility for this, because children under 16 years of age are deprived of reason, or rather, it is only being formed in them. I am a father myself and would like my children to be aware. While all this is happening (all of which is written below), we adults are doing these things and we are fully responsible for it. Read this short article. Yes, if possible, let all your acquaintances, relatives and friends read it.

There is currently a large number of people who, without the Internet or “sitting” on the social network and monitoring the comments on their blog post, do not represent life. Modern Applications in mobile phones only actively contribute to the development of such dependence ...

Moscow narcologists note that the contingent of their patients has now transformed from alcohol / drug addicts to the Internet - dependent people and ranges from 50 to 70% of total number patients, and the register of patients' appointments is scheduled for a year in advance.

Child psychologists are also sounding the alarm. According to the results of the experiment, in which children from 12 to 18 years old participated, only three children out of seventy "survived" to the end.

They were asked to refrain from using all kinds of gadgets, computer, TV, radio, music for 8 hours. At this time, they could occupy themselves with anything: from drawing and collecting puzzles to walking or sleeping.

However, the enthusiasm of the children disappeared immediately at the beginning of the second or third hour. Many observed aggression, fuss of movements, thoughts, speech; fear of loneliness and anxiety. On the physical plane this was expressed in the form of nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, fever, causeless pain, or a feeling of apparent pain throughout the body. Psychologists have compared this to the withdrawal effect.

Many children, without waiting for the end of the experiment, turned on their phones and called their parents, friends, classmates. The rest plunged into the virtual world or turned on loud music.

The two boys who successfully completed the task were gluing all this time various models sailboats. The third girl occupied herself with needlework with a break for lunch and a walk in the park.

Of course, each person is able to answer for himself the question: he is dependent on different kind internet entertainment or not. This article contains only some suggestions for getting out of addiction if a person sees that he or a child has it.

For adults:

Do not limit yourself to gatherings and conversations on social networks or hobbies for computer games. The restriction further activates desire and generates aggression against oneself: “Why am I like this weak person? I can't do anything."

Only effective remedy in getting rid of Internet addiction: this is a conscious observation of oneself, for example, in moments of virtual communication and an analysis of the value of the exchanged information. Appreciating the importance of this information and the amount of time spent on it is a direct path to getting rid of addiction. A person will simply gradually begin to understand whether he needs such communication, how much he needs it - this will help to freely get out of addiction, without stress for the body and psyche. This does not mean that a person will not use the same social networks. He will simply be free from the illusion of the importance of what is happening in the virtual world.

For children:

Here it is somewhat more complicated, since what was said in a commanding form: “Stop surfing the Internet, it’s time to do your homework!” most often it does not have any power to influence what is happening, but only exacerbates the situation.

Based on the results of the experiment, the ban does not give any results if the children are not explained in an accessible way why this or that is impossible. At the same time, the essence of the experiment was not quite correctly formulated - it was aimed at the abilities and capabilities of the child. They took him “weakly”, without offering any other game in return: “Can you stay for 8 hours without computer games or communication in social networks?” If each child were offered a collective play alternative to the same computer game- he would not even remember about his hardships.

It is also worth considering here: what attracts a child so much in the virtual world? Of course, many will answer: free communication On the Internet, you can create any image of yourself you want. The motives for difficulty in live communication may be different, but their basis is often the same: the child feels the individuality of his inner world, but does not see how it can be applied in interaction with others. Perhaps he once tried to do this, but his manifestations were rejected or not understood by other children. Therefore, it is easier to go into the world of illusions - there you can create any image of yourself or be yourself, and the choice of interlocutors is much greater, as well as the likelihood of finding like-minded people.

Advice to parents in this situation: watch your child. Maybe, inner world the child must be directed to right direction. After all, the virtual world is a game. Create another game for the child that would be interesting and useful to him, and perhaps the addiction will disappear by itself. Start with him, for example, to study English language Be your child's friend and life partner.

Psychologists also point out healing power dialogue: the more often parents communicate with children and not just actively nod their heads, but conduct a sincere dialogue with absolutely mature man on an equal footing - the less innuendo and difficulties arise in relationships.

In order for the child to listen to your opinion, psychologists also advise to remove the scheme: owner - property. This is because almost all parents consider their children to be THEIR - they obviously have an image of a person who is not adapted to anything, in need of constant training and care. Modern parents actively form the child's dependence on them, then suffering from the fact that a person in the future cannot make a decision on his own. However, in reality, today's children are significantly different from the previous generation. high level awareness and the presence of their own point of view regarding what is happening.

For example, if the mother is imperative form says what the child needs to do, she automatically blocks the freedom of choice both for herself and her child, knowingly believing that her position is the only correct one. At this point, the dialogue disappears as only one person is speaking. At the same time, the mother deprives the child of the opportunity to become a person in the future and be responsible for his own actions, hindering her development with her authority.

Therefore, in this situation, it is preferable to focus on your feelings and emotions, for example: "Masha, I'm watching you spend a lot of time on the Internet - this causes me concern." Say no more - leave room for response word child. Perhaps you will hear a reasoned answer in favor of using the Internet in just such a quantity - do not rush to conclusions. You may not get an answer. But if you say this really sincerely, then the child will definitely think about his actions - in fact, any person loves his parents very much, even if there is a cool relationship and he does not want to upset his loved ones. At this moment, in a child, you bring up the skills of awareness of your actions and taking responsibility for your actions.

It is also worth considering that the child does not need to say the same thing all the time - next time only a glance will be enough. It also happens that the results are not immediately visible, but, you see, every person needs time to realize himself in a new perspective. No need to put pressure on a person - be patient, and the result will not be long in coming.

Life in the virtual world or about addiction to social networks. Internet and social media firmly entered our lives. With undoubted advantages, such as the ability to get a lot of information, find your friends and communicate with people around the world, social networks are fraught with hidden danger. With increasing popularity, they attract every day great amount people, many of whom today cannot imagine a single day of their lives without viewing the news feed, reading messages, viewing photos, visiting their account or pages of other users.

Excessive attraction to spending time on social networks, the attraction of chatting with virtual friends and living online has led to the emergence of a condition that modern psychology calls the concept of "dependence on social networks." Is this addiction dangerous, how does it appear and can it be dealt with? This is what will be discussed in this article.

Why is social media so attractive?

In my opinion, one of the main advantages that social networks have is a kind of facelessness, i.e. the ability to anonymously communicate with people, to "interfere" in someone else's life, the ability to express themselves without risking anything - to insult people, "troll" or, for example, confess their love. Social networks are just a godsend for shy, shy and insecure people who find it very difficult to express themselves in real life. Hiding behind a beautiful, often someone else's photograph, such people surround themselves with numerous "friends", making up for the lack of real, live communication in their lives with virtual communication.

Social networks also provide great opportunities for self-realization - you can be anyone, create any image for yourself, even change your gender if you really want to. Through social networks, you can only show your own positive traits, embellish your life beyond recognition: upload photos passed through filters, make various interesting posts about yourself. And immediately your feed becomes bright, attractive to other people, you create many reasons for envy. Your photos are appreciated, your posts are discussed, you get a lot of attention and the illusion of being noticed by others, because social networks are built based on your imagination!

Estimated portrait of a person living a virtual life

Very often, people suffering from loneliness in real life become addicted to social networks. They have few friends, they have difficulty establishing contacts and establishing communication. Such people may have low self-esteem, lack of faith in themselves and their attractiveness to others. A very large number of them are teenagers who find it very difficult to find mutual language with peers. Also, young mothers who surf the Internet all their free time are prone to addiction to social networks. It is almost impossible to notice the line separating the passion for social networks from addiction. You realize you're addicted when you can't go an hour without checking your messages or scrolling through your news feed.

Typology of people addicted to social networks

Thinking about people living a virtual life, I want to focus on three types:

- Passive type: you constantly observe the lives of other people, watch their news and photos: perhaps nothing interesting is happening in your life, it is boring and unattractive for you, you are very dissatisfied with it. Or, on the contrary, you want to abstract from real life, it is unbearable for you, there is a lot of discomfort in it: uninteresting work, difficulties in the family, problems with parents, spouse or children.

- Active type: you yourself expose your life, sending your photos to social networks hourly and making different posts: perhaps you lack approval from loved ones, their support and praise in some way. And then you strive to fill this gap in virtual life. Perhaps you carefully hide your loneliness, anxiety, your own discomfort from real life, investing so much in creating an image on the Internet.

– mixed type: you spend a lot of time on the pages of other users, while also investing a lot in your own account: you may be a narcissistic person who is distinguished by pronounced competition. It is important for you to be in sight, to be noticed, while you do not suffer defeat, the feeling is unbearable for you when you are inferior in something to other people. The constant process of comparing yourself with others is beyond conscious control, it occurs at an unconscious level.

What does social media addiction lead to?

A person who spends a lot of time on social networks often does not think about possible consequences his "hobby". I will describe only some of them, which are especially significant for me as a psychologist, which I had to deal with while working with people addicted to social networks:

People are replacing real life with screen life. virtual communication draws a person in so much that he sacrifices his work, relationships with family or friends, emotionally withdraws from them, wanting to stay in a fictional virtual world as long as possible.

Viewing other people's accounts, photos, constantly comparing yourself with other people, often not in your favor, causes a lot of tension, envy and depression.

A person does not notice his life, does not attach value and importance to it, being carried away by the bright colors with which the lives of other people are filled for him. Against this background, own life seems to him gray and inexpressive. The mood deteriorates from the contemplation of someone else's happiness and the realization of one's boring, unhappy life.

The illusion of the fullness of life allows a person not to notice the feeling of loneliness, to replace the reality of his life with a fictional world.

Time spent on social media often feels like wasted time. Other people always have something going on, they walk, go shopping, cafes or movies. And you sit at home and your life is empty. You can’t even find the strength in yourself to do some planned things or spend time usefully. Such reasoning instills in a person even more confidence in his own worthlessness and weakness of character.

How to return to real life?

So is it possible to get rid of this addiction? I think yes, it is definitely possible. And the most important thing here, in my opinion, is to be able to pay attention to your real life, not to be afraid to meet face to face with possible difficulties. And also want to fill your life with real sensations and feelings. Here are a few more simple recommendations, which will be within the power of everyone:

*Turn off notifications on your phone. Constant audio messages pull you out of life, distracting you from the events taking place in it. I know from my own experience that it is impossible to finish some work without checking what kind of message came to the phone or tablet.

*More often "forget" the phone at home, for example, going for a walk with family or friends. Nothing supernatural will happen in 1-2 hours, but nothing will distract you from the outside world.

* Gradually limit your time on social media. Do not do it abruptly, reduce the time by 15-20 minutes a day. Ideally, it is better to allocate special time visits to social networks. For example, only morning and evening hours, 10-15 minutes each to respond to messages, view the news feed or read an interesting article.

* Hobbies - find your passion in real world: drawing, reading, sports. Everything that captivates you and brings a lot of pleasure and positive emotions!

*If you are unable to cope with your addiction to social networks on your own, seek help and support from a psychologist. Together, you will definitely be able to find a way to return to real life!

To date, a lot has been written and said about the Internet. The pros and cons of the World Wide Web are flying from all directions. Opponents and supporters prove right in all sorts of talk shows and on the pages of paper publications.

Meanwhile, the Internet lives its own separate life. Huge world, created by human hands, loves, hates, fights, laughs, creates families and destroys relationships, brings people together and moves them apart.

This world has no boundaries, it is beautiful on the one hand, but it also has a reverse, negative side. The Internet is a reflection of ourselves; evil generated by man; miracle created by man. As in a mirror, it reflects our life, our fears and complexes, desires and dreams.

Now modern man can't imagine my life without the Web. Work stops if the connection suddenly disappears. Everyone around is nervous, urgent matters are postponed, documents have to be sent by fax, and issues related to working moments have to be resolved by phone.

The Internet has become an integral part of not only work, but also our personal lives. ten years ago most of of the population had a poor idea of ​​what it means strange word"Internet". When I didn't have a computer yet, and my cousin was, and he even went on the Web sometimes, I tried to find out what it is and what you can do with it. After the answer: "You can do everything on the Internet," the matter did not clear up, and my thoughts about the Internet reached a dead end. Until the moment when I sat down at the computer and opened the browser.

After some time, a computer also appeared at my house, and I could walk around the expanses of the Web for as long as I needed. And already to my mother’s question: “Well, what is the Internet, can you explain to me? What can you do there for so long?”, I answered: “That's it!”. Time passed, my mother gradually mastered the computer and, while I'm not at home, she opens the browser, reads the news, looks for some materials on work.

Yes, who would have thought that once in their mother’s distant childhood they watched TV through a magnifying glass, that on that TV, which, by the way, was not yet in every family, only two channels were broadcasting. And those lucky ones who had a TV, warm summer evenings they put it on the window with a screen facing the street, the neighbors who didn’t have it yet gathered, and everyone watched some kind of movie.

We used to write letters on paper, a checkered piece of paper from the middle of a notebook. As a child, girlish letters always smelled of mother's perfume and flaunted on them at the end of the letter "kisses" - lipstick prints, and on reverse side envelopes must be printed with a felt-tip pen “Write!” or "Fly with greetings, return with an answer!" and draw hearts. With trepidation, we received the long-awaited envelope from friends and relatives. And they always worried that the letter dropped into the mailbox would definitely reach the addressee.

And sometimes, in the vanity of days, we forgot to answer letters. If they answered, then little. "Everything is fine, no change." And often lost sight of those who were once close.

Now letters are sent and received in seconds, and there is no need to send telegrams. It is enough to install one of the messengers, and the person who is on the other side of the world becomes nearby. Headphones, microphone, webcam - and thousands of kilometers do not count. Only the monitor separates you. Well, or a bad connection!

Through many sites, we find our classmates, childhood friends with whom we once lost touch. We find new friends, like-minded people and even our love. We learn languages, complete courses and get certificates. We shop without leaving home, sell, earn money, watch movies, listen to music, learn to cook and take pictures. Some "advanced" even register a virtual marriage!

But is everything so harmless in this space "on the other side"?

Of course, everything or almost everything depends on us. After all, sometimes this virtual life sucks a person into its nets imperceptibly. Of course, there are reasons for everything. In a way, "virtual" is an escape from reality. When a person considers the World Wide Web not just as a means of communication, communication, receiving news or any useful information. This is where the danger lies. Who has not been captivated by virtual life? Someone, "having been ill" with hyper-attachment to the Internet, "cools off" to it and uses it as a source of information and communication. And someone begins to use the Network itself.

A person is more and more immersed in the virtual, forgetting about his problems, because THERE is another world. In it, you can be whoever you want and as long as your imagination is enough. Your life goes only according to the laws that you create yourself. In that world you have everything that is not in this real world. There are friends who understand you, there is love. You can defeat any enemy, you can tell anyone everything that you would never dare to say in real life. You can be brave, you can be arrogant and uninhibited. You can be a fashion model or a poet. You are waiting for the support and approval of those invisible interlocutors. This is especially important if that very support is not enough in real life. You build yourself THERE, you assemble in parts the way you would like to see yourself in reality. You gain authority.

You have your own world, and so far you have not yet realized the harm of its artificiality. The gifts there are not real, and the flowers do not smell, although they look almost like living ones. You post your best, expertly edited photo and wait high marks from those who have you THERE in friends. Going to sleep in the morning, you once more You remember that you didn't call your friend. You haven't seen each other for a month, maybe more. But it would be necessary to meet, but there is no time ...

Do you have Internet at work, at home and in mobile phone. You come to visit and the first thing you do is look for a computer with your eyes or download one of the messengers from your mobile. Out of the corner of your ear listening to the conversations of friends, inappropriately answer questions and somehow keep up the conversation. You are in another world. But not to keep in touch. Not! For the constant feeding of their own vanity. For my own confidence. Therefore, you think with horror that someday the door to that world may be closed. Life there is more interesting and brighter. And you can't live without her anymore.

The worst thing is that a person stops noticing his own problems in real life. Instead of solving them, it is often easier to immerse yourself in another world and experience artificial happiness. Getting grades from virtual friends is much more enjoyable than sitting in the kitchen with a friend over a cup of tea. And in love there you are not at all the same as in real life.

How many mistakes we make, being afraid to live! How much pain we deliver to our loved ones by indifference caused by some unreasonable fear! But you just need to try to be free. One time, one day. Collect the will and become decisive here, in reality. Find a way out difficult situation in life outside the network is much more pleasant, more tangible than there. Say "I love" a person, looking into his eyes, overcoming his shyness. Hold a bouquet of roses in your hands, inhale their fragrance. To see the face of a loved one in front of you, his smile, to hear the voice, to feel the breath and the warmth of the palms. Breathe in the cold winter air. Go out at night with friends to play snowballs or build a snowman. After all, this is life! Here she is, the real one!

And, finally, to understand: it doesn’t matter to me how many “friends” I have in My World, on Odnoklassniki, Vkontakte and Facebook. The important thing is that after a hard day at work I can come to my Friend's house to see good film on DVD, or gather your friends and go for a walk, to the movies, ride a carousel, anywhere! I don't care how many virtual gifts they gave me. The important thing is that after work, when I go to the store, I will see some little thing in the window, maybe an insignificant trinket, and I will want to buy it and give it to my loved one.

It is important for me that I always have time to meet with friends. We have the power to solve problems. There is this life, this world. And then there is the Internet - an invisible thread that connects me with my loved ones in other cities and countries.

It's wonderful that I have all this!