definition:
Social interaction is a face-to-face social exchange between people.
example: A professor teaching students about a subject.
example: Two friends debating over a topic during lunch.
importance:
Steady social interactions allow for the creation of social relationships. These relationships can be built on the growth of cooperation through trust, business, or even love. By interacting with one another, people are able to understand each other at deeper connection with one another. Complex situations, people can generate systems with rules by which they live in order to survive. For example, the US Constitution was created by America's Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and many more. Together, they came up with thoughts and ideas to create a supreme law that allows the people of the land to live freely while following certain rules. Without social interaction between the Founding Fathers, the masterpiece of the US Constitution would not have possibly been created which would have led to a more chaotic society in the United States.
Of course, social interaction can be as simple as introducing yourself to a new classmate. Daily small talk between you and this classmate can lead to more fact disclosure and common ground. From these social interactions, a friendship or acquaintanceship would be formed. There are also many other types of relationships that can be formed through social contact such as having a group religious relationship, a romantic relationship, or a professional relationship.
If social interaction was not practiced, society would be more chaotic and the idea of unity would deteriorate.