Why are online friends so important?

The internet is a vast place. It has several functions, from knowledge to games to political discourse- there is nothing that you can’t find on the internet. But one of the most important things on the internet is communication. Most, if not all websites, have some sort of mechanism where you can speak to other people without having to meet them face to face; most notably dating sites like Tinder or websites for entertainment like Reddit and Tumblr.

In these sites, there is always one thing that seems to be prominent- online friends. Friends that you communicate with in private messages, or on posts, etcetera. These people may know each other in real life, but most only speak via the internet. Now, some might wonder, “why is this a thing? Why become close friends online when there are people right in front of you?” I am here to answer that question, as someone who has a person who is not just an online friend, but an online adopted sibling. 

The first reason why an online friend or two can be so beneficial to have is that they can help with social anxiety. I am the walking definition of a hermit, to the point where I show some symptoms of hikikomori syndrome (someone who doesn’t socialize or leave their house for months or years at a time) and I even plan on going full hikikomori when I’m older. However, I have an online friend who helps me socialize. I find it much easier to speak to them, and I connected with them much faster than any of the kids I know in real life- kids I’ve known for my WHOLE life. They promise to drag me outside when we’re older so that I don’t get too unhealthy, and they help me in tons of other ways besides that already. They don’t really know it, but they’re helping me learn how to make conversation; they’re helping me get better.

The second reason is one that I personally don’t relate to, but I’ve seen plenty online who do. Child abuse is a major problem globally, and the USA is no different. Children who are victims of abuse tend to use the internet as a means to cope with what’s happening. And, yes, while it is true this puts them in danger of being preyed on by groomers and offenders, this can actually work out nicely sometimes. Plenty of people on the sites I browse are abused by their families or others, and they have people online who they vent to- I’ve even seen people call each other siblings or parental figures. The person who I speak to online calls me their sister, and I call them my sibling. I am not abused, but they are still part of my support system. People make friends and even family online.

In conclusion, online friends are highly beneficial to many people. They can be just as meaningful as face-to-face friends, and help those with social anxiety or familial issues. My online sibling is a source of comfort for me, and many others have their own online family and friends who give them amazing support. They’re still socializing, and really, so long as someone speaks to one or two people, they do stay healthy. Talking to people isn’t as big of a deal as some make it out to be, just because someone doesn’t speak to 40 people in person a day doesn’t mean they’re closed off. So when someone spends a lot of time online, maybe instead of calling them lazy or closed off, it shouldn’t be questioned too much. Maybe they just have an easier time speaking to people online, or they need it to cope- and there is nothing wrong with that.