Comment by throw2827374 4 days ago
I was bullied in high school because I was so different.
I was also a new kid so it was hard to join an existing clique in a small town.
Online groups saved me. It not only let me stay in contact with my old friends, but also let me meet new people with similar interest so I didn't feel so alone.
Exactly. Subject specific forums and blogs are just ghost towns these days.
Reddit seems just like every forum, but with a mostly default skin
I don't think your story is uncommon especially for people who had trouble fitting in, however I would bet that places like facebook or instagram were not where you found your online groups. More likely to have been forums or online games. Very different environments and consequences.
Facebook is not "online groups", and it is known to statistically lead teenagers into higher rates of suicide.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. have mostly killed off the places where online groups formed when I was a kid.