&gt; a dire situation (i.e. mass estrangement)<p>I don&#x27;t know - could there be some observation bias given the forum we&#x27;re discussing this in? It also undermines digital relationships which have their own positives aspects. Here we are having a civil conversation about an important topic without having to commit to meeting at a certain time or place or without knowing what shared interests we have.<p>The internet can act as a social lubricant of sorts which is valuable. The legacy social lubricant is alcohol.