I think it's pretty common knowledge at this point, that the different generations view the internet quite differently, in terms of how important it is, compared to the so-called "real world". Younger generations are a lot more "grounded" in the internet, than older ones, they often view the net as their "home reality", so to speak.

I think the "Matrix" movies can provide a good analogy here, with the matrix being the internet. Neo and Trinity grew up in the matrix, and were rescued from it, as a young people. Their "home reality", is always going to be the matrix, at least on a subconscious level.

On the other hand, the "organic" humans raised in Zion, like Tank and Dozer, grew up in the "real world". They see the matrix as the "other world". Of course, the analogy isn't perfect here, because the "organic" humans can't enter the matrix.....their minds and bodies didn't receive the wiring and implants from the machines. They can view the events of the matrix on the "trickling screens", but can't experience it, while any person can enter the internet....young or old.

As a Gen-Xr, our lives were effectively "split" by the internet. We lived our childhood, and much or all of our youthful years before the net, and certainly before "Net 2.0" which began around 2000. Men of my generation grew up pursuing women offline, because....that's all there was. I think we have adapted well to the net, but we will never quite see it, in the same way, that Millennials and Gen-Zrs see it.

For you Millennials and Zrs.....do you feel that men and women can still pursue relationships off the net, or have young people been effectively "imprisoned", socially, psychologically and emotionally by the net, so that relationships can now only be initially formed there? Are the barriers to meeting people offline, really as steep, as I've been told?