When Connection Goes Online

We used to think care meant proximity.
A hand on a shoulder. A shared cup of tea.
But now?
Care travels through fibre optics.
Through emojis, voice notes, and video calls.
And while the medium has changed,
The need for relational depth hasn’t.

Let’s spiral into how relational care lives, breathes, and sometimes stumbles in digital spaces.

Relational care isn’t just about meeting needs.
It’s about mutuality, presence, and belonging.

As defined by recent research, it includes:

• An atmosphere of respect, trust, and inclusivity
• A purposeful focus on relationships
• Environments that support autonomy and connection

In digital spaces, these elements don’t disappear,
They just need new forms.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift.
Suddenly, care had to go online.
Social workers, therapists, community leaders,
All had to learn how to be present through a screen.

And what emerged was a new kind of intimacy:

• Digital relationality: Relationships formed and sustained online
• Digital rights: Ensuring access, privacy, and agency
• Digital resilience: Adapting to tech while preserving emotional depth

These aren’t just buzzwords.
They’re the scaffolding of care in a hybrid world.

Let’s name the tensions:

• Loss of non-verbal cues: No eye contact, no body language
• Blurred boundaries: Home becomes workspace, care becomes constant
• Tech fatigue: Zoom burnout is real
• Access gaps: Not everyone has the same digital tools or literacy

Digital care isn’t inherently empowering or harmful, it’s context-dependent.
And it needs intentional design.

So how do we build relational care online?
Here are some gentle, remixable practices:

Tone as touch: Use warmth, humour, and affirmation in messages
Visual cues: Share photos, emojis, or gestures to humanise the space
Rhythmic check-ins: Create predictable patterns of contact
Consent and pacing: Let people opt in, opt out, and take breaks
Digital hospitality: Curate welcoming environments, whether it’s a Zoom room or a WhatsApp group

These aren’t tech tricks.
They’re relational rituals.

Relational care online must be:

• Ethical: Respect privacy, consent, and emotional safety
• Inclusive: Design for access, neurodiversity, and cultural nuance
• Empowering: Support autonomy, not surveillance

As one study puts it, digital care must be critically accompanied by training, reflection, and institutional support.

Relational care in digital spaces isn’t second-best.
It’s different.
And it can be deeply meaningful.

Because presence isn’t just physical.
It’s emotional.
It’s intentional.
It’s relational.

So, let’s stop asking “Can care happen online?”
And start asking:
How can we make digital care feel like home?

Explore more with us:

• Browse Spiralmore collections
• Read our Informal Blog for relaxed insights
• Discover Deconvolution and see what’s happening
• Visit Gwenin for a curated selection of frameworks