Watch When Strangers Click: Five Stories From the Internet

When Strangers Click: Five Stories From the Internet is a thought-provoking documentary that explores how the internet has changed the way we connect with each other. The film is directed by Robert Kenner and was released in 2011. It delves into the world of online relationships and the impact they have on our lives. The film is divided into five different stories, each featuring people who have used the internet to form relationships. The first story is about a couple who met through an online game and fell in love despite living on opposite sides of the world. The second story follows a woman who used the internet to reconnect with her birth mother after being adopted as a child. The third story is about a man who used social media to find his birth sister. The fourth story is about a woman who fell in love with a man she met online, but their relationship ended in tragedy. The final story is about a man who uses the internet to find sexual partners.

The film interviews the people involved in each of these stories, as well as experts in psychology and sociology who weigh in on the impact of online relationships. The documentary also examines the darker side of the internet and how it can be used to perpetrate crimes such as stalking and harassment.

One of the themes that emerges over the course of the film is the idea of identity. In the online world, people can present themselves in different ways than they do in real life. This can lead to misunderstandings and even deception. The film looks at how the internet can be used to create a false sense of intimacy, and how this can be both dangerous and alluring.

Another theme is the idea of connection. For some people, the internet is a lifeline that allows them to connect with others in a way that they may not be able to in real life. The film looks at how online relationships can be just as meaningful and impactful as those formed in person.

Throughout the film, the interviews with the subjects are intercut with footage of the internet itself, from social media platforms to chat rooms to dating websites. This serves to highlight the ubiquity of the internet in our lives and how it has become a central part of the way we form relationships.

When Strangers Click: Five Stories From the Internet is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of online relationships. While it doesn't offer any easy answers, it does prompt the viewer to think critically about the ways in which technology has changed the way we connect with others. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in the impact of the internet on our lives, particularly when it comes to relationships.