How to Become Social Through Skype
So you want to start “skyping” but you don’t know how or what that even means. “Skyping” is just a term for communicating through Skype. First of all, Skype is a free online application that allows you to communicate to one or more people over the Internet either through text messaging, calling, or video chatting. As a bonus feature in text messaging, you can share things, such as documents, images, gifs, and videos. Notice that I said “more people”; that means you can also skype with a group if you create a group chat. Skype is kind of like an email, except I believe you can't call or video chat through emails, and they're not as instantaneous as Skype. Skyping can definitely help you connect with people, either in real life or online.
image: https://pascalcampion.deviantart.com/art/Skyping-295262806
STEP ONE: Have the Mindset
First, you gotta have the right mindset! You would want to skype because you plan to interact with someone or some people; this means Skype will make you socialize! Of course you can't just search and skype with a random person or people (well, I don't). You have to get to know that person or those people a bit more before you skype them because there are mysterious people out there. The world isn't 100% safe nowadays; as you may know, there are hackers out there, that you gotta watch out from. People have different personalities, beliefs, and intentions, so be aware of these! Now, you're mentally ready to skype!
image: https://washington.wgu.edu/blogpost/why-having-growth-mindset-leads-success#
STEP TWO: Create a Skype Account
Even if you are mentally prepared, you would still actually need to make a Skype account first in order to skype, am I right? You can find how by browsing on the Internet. Once you have followed the steps they provided and completed the process. However, you should be aware that Skype is a platform that is open to everyone so anyone can search anyone. Skype is safe to use though; for example, if someone "would like to add you on Skype", you have a choice to accept or decline and even block that person, especially if you don't know him/her. So you should be careful with the background information you include in your Skype account, such as your cellphone number, your home address, your email address, or any other personal information. If some sort of problem occurs, pertaining to unwanted strangers, then you should make a different Skype account with a different email address. You may not be able to control hackers, but you can definitely control what information you show. If you consider all these aspects, then you should be good to go! But wait! What if you are not a sociable human being? Your mind and your account might be ready, but are you emotionally ready?
STEP THREE: Start With Your Family
To exercise your social skills, start out comfortably by skyping with your family members, since you obviously know them better than anyone else (assuming that you’re much closer to them intimately). You're probably thinking, why skype with someone in the same house/room? Well, this will most likely apply to the times when you are far away from you're family or vice versa. If you're unfortunately not intimately close with your family in this case, then skype with whoever you are the closest and most comfortable with. If none of the above, just follow the next steps then.
image: http://weknowyourdreams.com/single/family/family-04
STEP FOUR: Get to Know More About Your Friends in Real Life
Sub-Step One: Meeting Someone New
Once you’re getting the hang of it, why not get to know more about your friends in real life? If you unfortunately don’t have friends to begin with, then going to school is a great opportunity to meet new people. There are definitely other places or occurrences where you can befriend someone, but as a more common and relatable topic, I’ll elaborate more about school. Usually some teachers make students introduce each other and/or get a classmate's contact information in the beginning of the semester. If not, you can befriend your classmate(s) voluntarily. What if you found out that you're socially awkward? Well, isn't everyone socially awkward once in their life time? You don't have to feel ashamed of yourself because you know yourself more than anyone else (hopefully). So just be yourself! It might be easier said than done, but make the effort to try to open yourself to that person. Take it one step at a time. Even I'm learning to do these things as well. But here are somethings that you can do to start out:
- introduce each other
- ask about each other
- speak out your thoughts and opinions
- make remarks and compliments
- maybe even come up with some side jokes (if you know any)
- help each other out
You don't necessarily have to do these, but these are some ways of physically socializing with people, and you and your classmate(s) don’t even have to do this solely just at school.
Sub-Step Two: Separating Physical Interactions From Virtual Interactions
However, we’re talking about skyping here, which is a type of virtual interaction, so you gotta separate the aforementioned physical interactions from the virtual interactions. Virtual interactions are pretty similar but are really restricted. The only self-explanatory difference is that with virtual interactions, you obviously cannot be with that person (or those people) physically. If you think about it, you can only text and talk through Skype. Also, if you ever choose to video chat (when you get to that certain level in your friendship), you are able to hear and see that person (or people) just like in real life, but you obviously can’t feel or smell their presence, which makes it virtual (let’s not even get into detail with the fifth sense).
Sub-Step Three: Sharing Each Other’s Skype
By now, you and your new friend(s) might consider sharing each other’s skype contact information. As a warning, you should be cautious about sharing your Skype contact. Make sure you and your new friend(s) have a certain trust between one another by that time. You can begin by just text messaging, but as you get closer with them, you can start calling them and even video chatting with them, once you get to that level of comfortability. If you do reach that closeness, you can also do things together. However, that is also limited, but you can make things spicy:
- share (or find about) each other's insecurities and secrets
- help each other through homework assignments (this might not exactly be fun, but it's an option)
- watch something together (videos, movies, etc.)
- play a game together (party games, tabletop games, or video games)
- bring each other to places (if you're using the app on your smart phone and if it has a data plan)
This way, you can absolutely maintain fun and long-lasting friendships. (As a short notice, data plan, by the way, basically allows you to have and use wifi on your own phone, instead of using your house wifi or relying on the wifi from other places/people. So you can skype people anywhere you are if your smart phone has a data plan.)
image: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-friends-college
STEP FIVE: Get to Know More About Your Friends Online
Sub-Step One: Meeting Someone New
Speaking of playing a game, if you want to step up your “game” on social skills, you can even skype with your online friends (or the friends you meet over the Internet). As a personally relatable example, if you ever play PC video games online (or computer video games on the Internet), such as Paladins, you can get to know someone in your team or maybe even your whole team (if it is a team-based game). If you and your teammate(s) are “clicking” or have a similar “vibe”, then you’re “leveling up” your social skills. In other words, if you and your teammate(s) are getting along and starting to become comfortable around each other, then that’s a good sign (the same goes for your friends in real life). This is literally a form of virtual interaction, but even this is limited as well because you have never been with that person (or those people) in real life obviously. At first, you can definitely help each other out (since it’s actually recommended in team-based games), and you can also do the things in STEP FOUR Sub-Step One. By then, you are starting to befriend a player (or players) in the video game.
Sub-Step Two: Sharing Each Other’s Skype
At some point, you might want to consider sharing each other’s Skype contact information. Then, you can also do the things in STEP FOUR Sub-Step Three. As the same warning, you should be cautious about sharing your Skype contact. Make sure you and your new online friend(s) have a certain trust between one another by that time. Skype can be a stepping stone for, once again, getting to know more about your new online friends and maintaining those online friendships. If Skype might be your only mode of communication (or any other online platforms), then it can also be a test of your online friendships’ mutual strength; however, if you don’t have a data plan on your smart phone, then text messaging each others’ emails or cellphone numbers, through Skype, can be a thing as well. Once you reach a trust level, you can also mail each other care packages as gifts, wherever you guys may live. Now that I realized, if this was a video game, socializing would be a skill that would have four (or possibly more) different levels: introduction, mutuality, trust, and intimacy.
STEP SIX: What’s Next?
Who knows, maybe after a certain amount of time, you might even learn to like that one person more than just as a friend, but this isn’t a “How to Start a Relationship” blog is it? But okay, in my opinion, a better way to start a relationship is once you physically meet each other, transitioning from a virtual interaction to a physical interaction. You may have "clicked" with each other emotionally, but I believe possible relationships also require a physical connection. It's just like chemistry, you need both interactions to react and produce something. However, others say, it could be risky to meet someone you met online because the only things you know about each other are the things you've said and shown to each other. So you definitely need to think things through; think about each other's closeness, mutuality, trust and everything you've been through together online. One safe, possible tip is that you can meet each other at a specific place (airport or somewhere else) instead of immediately meeting at the other person's house. It is your guys' decision to make. But then again, you won't know how something will turn out to be unless you give it a shot. You can discover new things about each other: the different angles of their appearance, their scent, their physical feeling, their behaviors, their awkwardness, their weirdness, and their uniqueness (the things you've been deprived of for so long). Of course, people change, personalities change, but if you guys still feel the same way in the future and still decide to meet each other in person, then why not? You can intimately spend more time with that special someone, who was once just an online Skype friend, but what do I know?! However, if you do start a relationship but have to unfortunately part ways, Skype can definitely be a good mode of communication during long distance relationships!
image: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-silhouette-couple-sunset-holding-hands-loving-image57063195
image: https://pascalcampion.deviantart.com/art/Skyping-295262806
STEP ONE: Have the Mindset
First, you gotta have the right mindset! You would want to skype because you plan to interact with someone or some people; this means Skype will make you socialize! Of course you can't just search and skype with a random person or people (well, I don't). You have to get to know that person or those people a bit more before you skype them because there are mysterious people out there. The world isn't 100% safe nowadays; as you may know, there are hackers out there, that you gotta watch out from. People have different personalities, beliefs, and intentions, so be aware of these! Now, you're mentally ready to skype!
image: https://washington.wgu.edu/blogpost/why-having-growth-mindset-leads-success#
STEP TWO: Create a Skype Account
Even if you are mentally prepared, you would still actually need to make a Skype account first in order to skype, am I right? You can find how by browsing on the Internet. Once you have followed the steps they provided and completed the process. However, you should be aware that Skype is a platform that is open to everyone so anyone can search anyone. Skype is safe to use though; for example, if someone "would like to add you on Skype", you have a choice to accept or decline and even block that person, especially if you don't know him/her. So you should be careful with the background information you include in your Skype account, such as your cellphone number, your home address, your email address, or any other personal information. If some sort of problem occurs, pertaining to unwanted strangers, then you should make a different Skype account with a different email address. You may not be able to control hackers, but you can definitely control what information you show. If you consider all these aspects, then you should be good to go! But wait! What if you are not a sociable human being? Your mind and your account might be ready, but are you emotionally ready?
STEP THREE: Start With Your Family
To exercise your social skills, start out comfortably by skyping with your family members, since you obviously know them better than anyone else (assuming that you’re much closer to them intimately). You're probably thinking, why skype with someone in the same house/room? Well, this will most likely apply to the times when you are far away from you're family or vice versa. If you're unfortunately not intimately close with your family in this case, then skype with whoever you are the closest and most comfortable with. If none of the above, just follow the next steps then.
image: http://weknowyourdreams.com/single/family/family-04
STEP FOUR: Get to Know More About Your Friends in Real Life
Sub-Step One: Meeting Someone New
Once you’re getting the hang of it, why not get to know more about your friends in real life? If you unfortunately don’t have friends to begin with, then going to school is a great opportunity to meet new people. There are definitely other places or occurrences where you can befriend someone, but as a more common and relatable topic, I’ll elaborate more about school. Usually some teachers make students introduce each other and/or get a classmate's contact information in the beginning of the semester. If not, you can befriend your classmate(s) voluntarily. What if you found out that you're socially awkward? Well, isn't everyone socially awkward once in their life time? You don't have to feel ashamed of yourself because you know yourself more than anyone else (hopefully). So just be yourself! It might be easier said than done, but make the effort to try to open yourself to that person. Take it one step at a time. Even I'm learning to do these things as well. But here are somethings that you can do to start out:
- introduce each other
- ask about each other
- speak out your thoughts and opinions
- make remarks and compliments
- maybe even come up with some side jokes (if you know any)
- help each other out
You don't necessarily have to do these, but these are some ways of physically socializing with people, and you and your classmate(s) don’t even have to do this solely just at school.
Sub-Step Two: Separating Physical Interactions From Virtual Interactions
However, we’re talking about skyping here, which is a type of virtual interaction, so you gotta separate the aforementioned physical interactions from the virtual interactions. Virtual interactions are pretty similar but are really restricted. The only self-explanatory difference is that with virtual interactions, you obviously cannot be with that person (or those people) physically. If you think about it, you can only text and talk through Skype. Also, if you ever choose to video chat (when you get to that certain level in your friendship), you are able to hear and see that person (or people) just like in real life, but you obviously can’t feel or smell their presence, which makes it virtual (let’s not even get into detail with the fifth sense).
Sub-Step Three: Sharing Each Other’s Skype
By now, you and your new friend(s) might consider sharing each other’s skype contact information. As a warning, you should be cautious about sharing your Skype contact. Make sure you and your new friend(s) have a certain trust between one another by that time. You can begin by just text messaging, but as you get closer with them, you can start calling them and even video chatting with them, once you get to that level of comfortability. If you do reach that closeness, you can also do things together. However, that is also limited, but you can make things spicy:
- share (or find about) each other's insecurities and secrets
- help each other through homework assignments (this might not exactly be fun, but it's an option)
- watch something together (videos, movies, etc.)
- play a game together (party games, tabletop games, or video games)
- bring each other to places (if you're using the app on your smart phone and if it has a data plan)
This way, you can absolutely maintain fun and long-lasting friendships. (As a short notice, data plan, by the way, basically allows you to have and use wifi on your own phone, instead of using your house wifi or relying on the wifi from other places/people. So you can skype people anywhere you are if your smart phone has a data plan.)
image: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-friends-college
STEP FIVE: Get to Know More About Your Friends Online
Sub-Step One: Meeting Someone New
Speaking of playing a game, if you want to step up your “game” on social skills, you can even skype with your online friends (or the friends you meet over the Internet). As a personally relatable example, if you ever play PC video games online (or computer video games on the Internet), such as Paladins, you can get to know someone in your team or maybe even your whole team (if it is a team-based game). If you and your teammate(s) are “clicking” or have a similar “vibe”, then you’re “leveling up” your social skills. In other words, if you and your teammate(s) are getting along and starting to become comfortable around each other, then that’s a good sign (the same goes for your friends in real life). This is literally a form of virtual interaction, but even this is limited as well because you have never been with that person (or those people) in real life obviously. At first, you can definitely help each other out (since it’s actually recommended in team-based games), and you can also do the things in STEP FOUR Sub-Step One. By then, you are starting to befriend a player (or players) in the video game.
Sub-Step Two: Sharing Each Other’s Skype
At some point, you might want to consider sharing each other’s Skype contact information. Then, you can also do the things in STEP FOUR Sub-Step Three. As the same warning, you should be cautious about sharing your Skype contact. Make sure you and your new online friend(s) have a certain trust between one another by that time. Skype can be a stepping stone for, once again, getting to know more about your new online friends and maintaining those online friendships. If Skype might be your only mode of communication (or any other online platforms), then it can also be a test of your online friendships’ mutual strength; however, if you don’t have a data plan on your smart phone, then text messaging each others’ emails or cellphone numbers, through Skype, can be a thing as well. Once you reach a trust level, you can also mail each other care packages as gifts, wherever you guys may live. Now that I realized, if this was a video game, socializing would be a skill that would have four (or possibly more) different levels: introduction, mutuality, trust, and intimacy.
STEP SIX: What’s Next?
Who knows, maybe after a certain amount of time, you might even learn to like that one person more than just as a friend, but this isn’t a “How to Start a Relationship” blog is it? But okay, in my opinion, a better way to start a relationship is once you physically meet each other, transitioning from a virtual interaction to a physical interaction. You may have "clicked" with each other emotionally, but I believe possible relationships also require a physical connection. It's just like chemistry, you need both interactions to react and produce something. However, others say, it could be risky to meet someone you met online because the only things you know about each other are the things you've said and shown to each other. So you definitely need to think things through; think about each other's closeness, mutuality, trust and everything you've been through together online. One safe, possible tip is that you can meet each other at a specific place (airport or somewhere else) instead of immediately meeting at the other person's house. It is your guys' decision to make. But then again, you won't know how something will turn out to be unless you give it a shot. You can discover new things about each other: the different angles of their appearance, their scent, their physical feeling, their behaviors, their awkwardness, their weirdness, and their uniqueness (the things you've been deprived of for so long). Of course, people change, personalities change, but if you guys still feel the same way in the future and still decide to meet each other in person, then why not? You can intimately spend more time with that special someone, who was once just an online Skype friend, but what do I know?! However, if you do start a relationship but have to unfortunately part ways, Skype can definitely be a good mode of communication during long distance relationships!
image: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-silhouette-couple-sunset-holding-hands-loving-image57063195
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ReplyDeleteI really loved your blog about Skype. It is very informative and with just the right amount of detail. Nowadays, most people communicate and get to know each other through online platforms and I think it is very important that individuals especially the youth learn how to do so the right way. I love that you make Skype seem so easy to use.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think as much as there are many positive effects of using Skype, it is also important to highlight the negative sides of it. I would recommend you include some cautionary measures that people should take even as they interact with strangers through this platform. People should remember it is a platform open to everyone and not all individuals have good intentions. It is important that people are made aware of such issues even as they continue socializing through Skype.
Personally, I am a social person and I am in a lot of different sites such as face book, snap chat and instagram. I had never actually thought of joining Skype since I considered it too complicated to use and even register. But after reading this blog, my mind is definitely changed. I am going to sign up as soon as possible and start connecting with more of my friends through it. Thanks a lot for the helpful information Keep up the good work.
Oh yes, you definitely a point. Anything that has a positive side also has a negative side. I agree, it is important to highlight such issue and cautionary measures. I should've elaborated about talking to strangers because, yeah, there those individuals who don't have good intentions. I realized I made this blog very one-sided; I guess I felt so inspired and motivated from the positive side and from my personal experiences that I only talked about what I wanted to talk about. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteWhat does this mean: "Skyping can definitely help you connect with people, either in real life or online"?
ReplyDeleteI see how you probably got confused because the purpose of Skype is to connect people in real life through “online” (through the Internet) since it's an “online” communicating platform. I meant that skyping can help you connect with people in real life, such as family and friends that we've known in real life, and people online, such as online gaming friends that we've only met through the online game. Sorry about the repetitiveness of "in real life" and "online".
ReplyDelete