The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented limitations for first-year Carleton students. For them, an online fall semester means no in-person frosh week, no in-person orientation, and less opportunities to make friends in their classes.
To counter these setbacks, almost 3,000 incoming students have joined the Facebook group, ‘Carleton University Class of 2024 Social-Group.’
The page invites members to post a personal introduction, participate in group icebreakers, and ask questions to their peers.
“I want to get the opportunity to meet new people, and with everything going on with the current situation of COVID-19, the only way to do that is through the Internet,” Amina Elsharif, who will begin the global and international studies program this fall, said.
Elsharif said friendships on the page typically begin with commenting on posts. From there, conversations begin or smaller group chats are made on various social media platforms.
Incoming criminology student, Julia LeSage, agrees the Facebook page is a good “starting place” for meeting people.
“It lets people get an idea of who’s in their program and start talking to people,” she said. “So by the time we are allowed to have in-person classes, there’s already some form of companionship or an acquaintance in the class.”
LeSage added that the Facebook group is “more formal,” and that more casual interactions occur in the group chats branching off from initial contact on the page.
Cheryl Harasymchuk, an associate professor in Carleton’s psychology department and expert on maintaining friendships, said these smaller group chats can help students develop meaningful connections.
“Social networking sites can provide useful platforms to connect with others,” she said. “It increases the chances of meeting like-minded people.”
To maintain and develop online friendships, Harasymchuk suggests regular contact, knowing what you want from the relationship (are you looking for a best friend or just someone to go to parties with?), and finding opportunities to discuss a variety of topics.
“Having this page provides an outlet for people going through a similar experience, that are starting out their undergraduate degree without the benefits of in-person events and classes,” she added.
Students are using social media to connect in light of COVID-19. [Graphic by Jillian Piper]
However, there are still some potential drawbacks to meeting friends online. Harasymchuk said one obstacle is the transition to in-person conversations.
“When you meet them face-to-face, you’re going to move beyond one context, you’re going to learn more about them, and you might realize that you’re not as similar as you thought,” she said.
Another obstacle is the lack of in-person chemistry while communicating online.
“You have less of a chance of observing more subtle body language, certain aspects might be less spontaneous, as well, there won’t be affectionate touch, like shaking hands or giving a hug,” Harasymchuk explained.
Despite these challenges, the professor said she doesn’t want to take away from all the ways students can creatively connect online.
“There’s been so many advances in the last decade that help to facilitate interactions online,” Harasymchuk said. Video chat, using emojis, and playing online games are just some of the ways she suggests students can expand upon their virtual friendships.
Incoming students Jeremy Anglin and Dula Deb said they are aware of the challenges that come with meeting people online, but that hasn’t prevented them from developing a friendship.
“I read his bio, and he said he was doing a concentration in creative writing,” Deb, who is pursuing the same concentration, said. “I was like, ‘Okay might as well give this person a chance to talk and get to know them,’ and then we just clicked instantly.”
Anglin agreed, adding that Deb initially reminded him of one of his friends from home in Kingston.
“It’s kind of weird because she was the first person I talked to, and it felt like I already knew her,” he said.
Now, the friends regularly FaceTime, share pieces of their writing with each other, and are hopeful they can make the transition to real-life friendship soon.
“We’re using our resources and trying to make the best out of the situation,” Elsharif said, who is also looking forward to meeting her online friends for future coffee dates.
Featured image by Jillian Piper.
