To use a smartphone, arguably. It's now how it's shaping out though. The power of chat apps (telegram, whatsapp, etc) alone makes it hard to be part of a social circle without one.

Peer pressure's an incredibly strong force, as is the stigma of being an outsider.

Isnt more healthy and natural to invest time in building real relationships and conversations instead of virtual ones?

That assumes that relationships formed on a non-face-to-face basis are somehow not real relationships.

Which is pure nonsense.

Were this true, you'd never see an in-game funeral for someone who died in real life.

Were this true, people could never meet online only to build a relationship and marry IRL.

Were this true, Facebook wouldn't have any value as a communication tool between distant people.

Whats the point of investing time in chat with people that you'll never see? I'm old enough to know that those virtual relationships had no value for my life. Platform shouldn't be a reason to keep in touch with someone.

Even though you can call them relationships.