Friendship Through the Ages: A Technological Perspective

Abstract

Friendship is a socially constructed phenomenon that is part of the everyday lives of human beings. Its practices have been researched for many years by sociologists and social anthropologists. The use of digital communication technology has come to play an important role in the way that we interact with family and friends. This qualitative study explores different dimensions of friendship that are practiced across three generations of Canadian, middle class, educated women. Furthermore, it looks at how these dimensions of friendship are made manifest, diluted or challenged by the use of communication technologies. The main findings show that the ideals of friendship are expressed through intimacy, closeness and reciprocity for all generations, however the way that these are expressed through digital communication technology varies across the generations.