Internet friendship is a fairly new phenomenon, with the rise of smartphones and technology within the past few years. From the outside, it looks like nothing more than antisocial teenagers looking for a distraction from a life of monotony, but only the people on the inside know that true connections and bonds are being made. These are five reasons why internet friendship is just as important as traditional friendship.
- Personality First:
We live in an age where judgments happen upon first sight. Just from looking at a person, one may determine if the person is friendly, rich, poor, intelligent, and more. When chatting through a screen, these judgments fade. You know nothing more than a profile picture and name on first glance. This opens up discussions with people you may never usually talk to in person.
- Diversity:
I live in a place that does not have a diverse population. There is a mix of three general races, leaving out a large portion of the world. The majority seems to be conservative, and the LGBT+ population is minuscule. Because of this, I grew up ignorant about many different cultures and rituals. When I started making friends online, I was introduced to a new world. I learned about the experiences of people of other religions, cultures, and the LGBT+ youth. My knowledge has expanded exponentially, just as many others that have made friends online. It is an experience that quite a few will miss out on if they continue to ignore internet friendships.
- Connecting on Common Ground:
In slight contrast to my last point, internet friendship allows a faster connection with people due to a common interest. This mainly happens in groups of online fans, or fandoms. Through my interaction with fellow fans of the Broadway musical Hamilton on Twitter, I was able to quickly connect with friendships that have lasted for nearly a year now. In face-to-face friendships, connections might not happen as fast if the two people do not have anything in common.
- Honesty:
When talking to a new friend in person, you may be reserved in your attitude or mannerisms. In other words, the “true you” doesn’t come out until the third or fourth conversation. In an online conversation, people are more likely to show their true colors in the first conversation, which can start friendships faster. Also, people with social anxiety and other anxiety disorders might not be able to make friends in person due to their condition. A screen can make communication smoother for people not otherwise able to talk easily. Friendships are incredibly important, and it is not right to scoff at a method of conversation that can provide a friend to the friendless.
- Unbiased Advice:
When asking advice from a friend in person, they may take the unexpected route due to outside known information. If you are trying to break up with a problematic partner, the advice-giver might try to justify the actions of the partner if they know the other side of the story. On the contrary, internet friends will not play Devil’s Advocate because they do not know the other side of the story. Internet friendship provides a place for true help and advice when one really needs it.
All five of these reasons do not sum up my passion for internet friendships, but all of the stories I have told throughout this article are true. I have met so many people and made so many friends online that have been there for me, just like a friend in “real life.” No matter what, I always have a place to go when I need a place to talk. I cannot stress enough how important my internet friends have been in my life. If you want to make some internet friends, I strongly encourage you to log on to a social network and search for a community that suits your interest. It has changed my life, and I will never regret it.
