The fast pace of the contemporary world Many people now admit that it is really difficult to form and maintain relationships in the contemporary world as the pace of the contemporary life is too rapid. Some claim that the development of technology can help people to start and maintain relationships. For instance, many people rely on social networks that enable them to remain in contact with other people 24 hours a day. There is no need to spend hours and days to meet new friends and make new acquaintances, as one can simply use a specific tool offered by various social networks. One does not have to leave his/her apartment to socialize. Many believe they may even create intimacy in their digital world. Nevertheless, social networks can only help to withhold intimacy with friends as the digital world is nothing more than an illusion which can only fulfil specific tasks (like sharing information, staying in touch, etc.). It is impossible to create real intimacy as the digital world contains numerous covert dangers. One of the most explicit obstacles to forming real intimacy is anonymity of the digital world where all people choose whether they should reveal their true selves. However, to illustrate this viewpoint it is important to define the notion ‘intimacy’. Intimacy in the contemporary world Defining intimacy Different researchers define ‘intimacy’ differently. For instance, Jamieson (2002, p. 1) sees intimacy as “mutually shared intimacy” which requires “a relationship in which people participate as equals”. The author also mentions that it can be rather difficult to achieve such type of intimacy as people living in the contemporary world are overwhelmed by various conventions. People are divided in terms of race, gender, class, religion, etc. Admittedly, these differences can be difficult to ignore. The author notes that intimacy across genders, generations, classes and races can only take on this character if the participants can remove social barriers and transcend structural inequalities. (Jamieson 2002, p. 1) Therefore, Jamieson (2002) still believes that intimacy is achievable in real life settings. However, the researcher does not claim that intimacy in the real world is so easy to achieve. Thus, Jamieson (1999) states that people expect to create mutual intimacy which is based on equality and trust. People long to have relationships which enable them to share their feelings and to be sure their partners feel the same way. Nonetheless, the researcher admits that people have to deal with numerous prejudices which jeopardize complete intimacy. Admittedly, Jamieson (2002) offers quite a comprehensive definition, which still lacks a very important point. Intimacy is not only sharing emotions, feelings and ideas. Intimacy also includes care. Turkle (2011) states that even if people create robots to take care of them, this will not mean that people will become closer, even though they will have more time to share emotions and feelings. Turkle (2011, p. 292) stresses that the time people spend “caring for children, doing the most basic things for them, lays down a crucial substrate”. The researcher claims that it is the care that helps to create real mutual intimacy. Inti