Effects of absence of gating on the nature of virtual relationships
In face-to-face relationships, gates are barriers — like physical appearance or shyness — that can stop a relationship from starting. Online, those barriers often disappear, which changes how relationships form and develop.
Real World
Online communities like Reddit allow people with social anxiety or visible disabilities to form deep friendships based on shared interests, bypassing the physical appearance judgements that might prevent those connections forming at a university freshers' fair.
Exam Focus
Define 'gate' clearly before discussing its absence — many students lose marks by assuming the examiner knows the term.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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