#WeMetOnTheNet celebrates a concept of meeting online in a broad sense: from having a match on dating platform to approaching the people who have similar interests online.
There is a shared belief associated with meeting people online nowadays. You notice it every time you ask someone who met each other on a dating app. They hide the word "Tinder" and try to create on more fairy-tale of meeting each other via friends.
visumate, Berlin-based digital marketing agency, started non commercial #WeMetOnTheNet social media campaign to celebrate the synergy between online and offline relationships. The team was inspired by Berlin social media network culture: meeting online and bringing the connection to offline and keeping the contact in a real time.
The campaign revealed that meeting online nowadays is one of the main ways to engage socially and share the experiences and inspirations. Even though the perception of meeting online is rapidly changing, there is still a belief of fake dimension in meeting online: fiction profile, personality or image.
#WeMetOnTheNet encourages people to talk about digital connections as well as initiates the change of the negative connotations associated with developing friendships or relationships with someone met online. "We successfully highlighted the advantages of communication via social media and brought on the stage the examples which are worth knowing," notes Gintare Adomaityte, PR manager at visumate, and introduces the #WeMetOnTheNet submissions that showcase friendships, not only romantic relationships, that were started on such platforms.
Read some of the #WeMetOnTheNet submissions below.
More info: visumate.com
#1
Friend to love: Accidental meet up almost two years ago turned into one of the greatest friendships in my life. #wemetonthenet via one of facebook groups when was on hunt for the place to stay in Berlin. After several coffee dates, she was a person who hosted me at her apartment when I had to leave mine and offered friendship and support during one of the most complicated period of time. The queen of cats and lovely walks Urte always inspires me to trust on people does not matter the circumstances or channels we meet.
4points
#2
“Benjamin and I have been digitally connected for years. We found each other in some photo group on Flickr, something related to street photography, I guess. We liked each other’s style and started following each other. Tumblr and Facebook followed, and last but not least Instagram. We never got past photo small talk though. In May this year, we finally met for the very first time in Leipzig - live and in colour.”
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3points
#3
"I met Anh the first time during a photowalk. Afterwards, we started following each other on Instagram. Thankfully, we managed to find our own ways to meet again for pictures and eventually to hang out together - trying out new restaurants and food, having deep conversations in a bar or dancing in a club. I'm just glad that I had the chance to meet her and still keep in touch with her until today. A truly sweet and lovely person to be around with! Being a foreigner in a big city is pretty tough, as it's not that easy to make new friends. I'm simply grateful that these days, the Internet keeps working on its role to be very social!"
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2points
#4
"I first started following Friedi when I saw that she was hanging out with some of my dear Instagram friends from Berlin which made me think that she must be pretty cool. Since I didn't make it to Hamburg myself then, the first time we met was actually in Berlin when the Hamburg crew was in town for a photo walk through Friedrichstadt-Palast. That weekend I figured out she is indeed cool and we bonded over some beer and career advice. Recently we met again - this time in Hamburg where we walked around the rainy harbor and took this picture."
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2points
#5
“Thai and I met in Berlin, where we searched for beautiful objects together with Jorge and Mervin from London. A Vietnamese, a Salvadorian, a Brit and a German walking through Berlin - what sounds like the beginning of a joke was a really fun day! I’m glad that I have met so many different people through Instagram. And it’s especially easy to do it in Berlin, as the community there is great!”
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2points
#6
“When I visited Berlin last summer, I set up a photowalk with Jorge and Thai spontaneously joined us. For the first time I could put a face to his channel. Ever since, a meet up with Thai is always on my To-Do-List when I’m in Berlin. Not only has he become my personal Berlin guide, but also my friend!”
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2points
#7
“Elly contacted me for an article in a Bulgarian online magazine which suggested some Instagrammers from Berlin. Since then we stayed in touch online. She was visiting Berlin this May to exhibit her work in an open air gallery. There we finally saw each other in person and agreed on a walk through the city. This photo was taken during that very first walk of ours. Elly had always wanted to go to that spot, so she was really glad that I took her there. I was so happy meeting her, having fun as well as instagramming around. Good news – Elly just booked her tickets and will be visiting Berlin again soon.”
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2points
#8
“I got to know Steffi through several Instawalks in Berlin. We became really good friends after a Walk in Neubrandenburg in September 2015, which Heiko organised together with the blog mobilephotography. Ever since we keep meeting up in smaller groups to explore interesting places and to update each other on the newest Instagram trends.”
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2points
#9
“I had been a fan of Elena and her project @colorbones for a while but we didn’t know each other personally. Shortly before her first exhibition in Berlin we started following each other on Instagram. Two weeks later we went on our first photo walk together. We walked through Sofia’s streets for about seven hours and took an incredible amount of photos. We got along very well and decided to emigrate to Berlin together soon. I appreciate Elena’s honesty and humour. I can be myself when I’m around her and we share the same passion for photography, Berlin and German boys!”
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2points
#10
Lena and I met more than one year ago after following each other on Instagram. Not only we became close friends, but also co-workers and already went on two trips together! #wemetonthenet
2points
#11
#wemetonthenet I met you 6 years ago via online gaming platform. At that time I was young and never thought that I could meet such a nice, kind, handsome, loving man on the internet. Now we are already 4 years married and looking forward for many years to come. Celebrating love everyday with you, Darius!
1point