Taking a clumsy fall on the street, I pick myself up and reassure myself: "It's fine, no one I know is around." But if I fell at home, I'd still feel embarrassed. Falling while with someone I know but not well would be downright awkward.When interacting with complete strangers, mutual unfamiliarity naturally keeps boundaries within acceptable limits. With very familiar people, boundaries established through mutual understanding eliminate awkwardness. Texting and social anxiety: chicken or egg? Dr. Huang explains that a preference for texting and social anxiety are mutually reinforcing.
Generally, those with social anxiety fear face-to-face conversations yet still crave connection, leading them to choose virtual interactions. Conversely, virtual communication provides a strong sense of security—a fundamental human instinct—causing them to become immersed in this self-created "safe" environment, significantly intensifying their social anxiety.
Text-based communication, lacking visual cues and true understanding of the other person's intent, leads to constant speculation. This psychological strain can manifest in abnormal behavior. Thus, text-based communication inherently involves guessing and overthinking, which can trigger psychological symptoms.