Are online relationship/friendships as valid as real life ones?

[Cynicaldreamer]

Absolutely! I know some people question how can you be friends with someone you can't see or physically be with like someone in real life.

Just because they're on the internet doesn't mean they're not a real friend. If they listen to you, talk to you regularly, and know as much about you, if not more, than people you interact with daily, I'd consider them a real friend.

Also, keep in mind some of us have issues making friends in real life for whatever reason: location, disabilities, introversion (it's easier to talk online than in person to people), finding like minded people, or it's just easier to be yourself online.

I've met 90 percent of my friends online over the years- and we talk EVERY SINGLE DAY. Some of them I've ever met in person! I trust some of them more than people in real life, as bad as that sounds!

My longest friendship is a friend I met online 11 years ago! We talk almost daily via text and he knows more about me than most of my family members, we exchange birthday and Christmas gifts, and I was even invited to him and his wife's wedding a few years ago. Now if that's not a real friendship, I don't know what is.

[nopedydoo]

to some point. I've befriended people online and they were like real friends to me, we talked a lot, joked a lot and trusted one another. the only difference was that we were physically far apart. we could still see each other through pictures and video calls. unfortunately, the long distance kind of caught up to me and i ended those friendships. i feel bad and ik it was shitty of me but i felt like it was pointless if i was never going to meet them. it also felt like a job, having to always reply and talk to them and help them with their problems. I've found that online friendships tend to be much more intimate and honest just because you have a greater sense of security behind a screen, so they would end up always complaining and telling me about all their problems, even if i had only talked to them for a month. since im also a very busy person, it just felt like a waste of time for me. i wasn't really getting anything out of it. i didn't want to just be their therapist and have to talk to them 24/7 (i dont even usually talk to my actual friends that much). like ik it was a dick move of me since these people trusted me and relied on me but i just couldnt keep up with the expectations of having an online friend I don't know

[DrunkAss]

I used to completely discount the online ones. I still do, sorta. But sometimes people are very open online in ways they aren't in person. I'm confused because I'm open all over da place. But I've met some nice people on here. You're one of them. They're open and not afraid to share their innermost thoughts and life experiences. That's hard to find in person. But to me online is still sort of fantasy land -- or at least a different dimension. I am all about face-to-face if we're trying to commit to something beyond interesting exchanges... there is warmth in touch and laughter you can actually hear (no someone typing "LOL"), hugs, kisses, things of this sort. These are important aspects of communication to me -- too important to see online as a replacement.

[hahahmm]

As someone who was around before the Internet: not in the vast majority of cases. It's also more likely could have a real friendship online than a real relationship. Odds are that one person in an online relationship doesn't take it seriously. I'd also use this analogy... imagine relationships are some expensive computer. Now imagine if I give you a free computer that's like your online relationship. If you do the hard work to earn the money & buy your own computer that's like an in person relationship. The number of people who treat the free computer poorly is going to be way higher than the hard workers who treat their computer poorly. There isn't the same investment.

[CurlyGirl42]

For me there is a big difference when you never actually experience things first hand together, and I would not consider someone I only interact with online as 'normal' friend, I would specify that they are online friends. But I did have some great online friendships as a teenager which went on for years and meant a lot to me.
In a relationship I NEED the physical aspect and would not ever say I would have an online boyfriend, even when I was younger.

[Variety_3-14]

They’re “real”/valid, just based on my experiences, not sustainable. Most of my “online friends” last less than a month. But it’s not too different than real life. Outside of seeing people on campus, I don’t really hangout with people often. So in person or online, it’s all the same to me. I just try to enjoy the time we share until our friendship dies out

[TeeBar]

No: you can be dealing with a "person" that is a phantom personality created by the actively mind of a joker, charlatan, or psychopath and not have the slightest clue. To be fair, that can happen with a face-to-face acquaintance too! In general, the answer is NO.

[utterlyconfused11]

no they are not. anything online will never replace face to face interaction unless you actually know the person you are talking to in real life. if you have never met in real life it will never be as real but if you have met in real life and are separated and forced into an online friendship due to factors that you cannot control then it is still a real relationship. kinda ramble hope what I said makes sense

[Bella_Iris]

I mean yes? but only to a point. If you don't see them face to face then your friendship is kind of limited. Plus, I found that my online friends always left me stranded... they aren't as dependable as real ones could be.

[Poppykate]

Probably not. It’s always hard to communicate effectively online.

[MurderMitten]

I think this can be tricky but, my thoughts are if you and the person online have plans for being together or to do something in real life for lack of better words some day then id say yes it is valid.

[electromagnetic]

Absolutely.
I met a very nice guy from here almost 12 years ago now and till this day, he’s still a great friend on mine. Never got the chance to meet in person but one day.

[lightbulb27]

no, but they can be an augmentation.
Nothings real til you have a real human in front of you. People can put on all kinds of facades online, well meaning or other.

[Account]

They can be.
However, I am under the impression that they are more difficult to maintain.
But you should be careful either way.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

I always say a relationship is a relationship & a friendship is a friendship online or offline they are both something to be treasured.

[Yads_Is_Back]

There’s only one person I really want one with, but I messed a lot of it up. I’m working for it back though.

[WesBrewer]

I would say that they are not, if you meet them in person it can be, but without actual human contact, it will never be fully valid.

[1stranger]

Yeah, absolutely. If only we could touch each other.

[Guanfei]

They are. The people you're talking to are real people, with real feeling. That's why you should always be careful with that, never "be friend" or "date" someone online if you don't mean it, you could hurt someone really bad.

[Pink2000]

Absolutely. I met my best friend on here when I first joined 5 years ago. She’s no longer on here but we talk every single day.

[magiusX26]

of course they are just as valid/real. if they werent, then my brother (friend since 6th grade) would not have met his wife of nearly 20 years.

[DavidFox]

Nope, irl are real relationships, online is not a replacement

[Biancatsumi1991]

Yes, of course! They are valid! I've been there hahaha

[Stevenmurphyy]

I have met many beautiful women on some dating sites and we still talk daily, if people know where to look for one's then yea they become valid, not Facebook lol.

[anewme]

Absolutely No. I hate it and I rarely use that word hate.. still they help but just alil. Not to replace the inperson thing feeling. They are also good education or therapy I've used😳 😁

[Wise4myage]

I think they can if both people make a good effort and they develop a good connection.

[Gedaria]

If you can see eachother they tend to be better than just texting or emailing.

[bulletbob555]

I am definitely seeing it happen to many people now a days. It can't compare to irl

[fxllenone]

I used to think that, but most women online are either looking to sext or date, it is probably the same with men.

[Jmmmfi4]

I have one for the last year and a half now but I'm thinking of ending it because she's got a boyfriend so I'm just wasting my time really

[msc545]

Probably not in most cases. The test is to meet in person and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

For me yes
You are negative about every kind of friendship

[ItsTheNephilim]

Sure, you just need to value them enough.

[doctord00m]

Same weight? No. Valid in their own way? Yes.

[Cherokeehp]

Nope

[spartan55]

Absolutely not.

[bannacookies]

I don't think so.

[Mehzmeh]

Nope not really

[Adam-eg]

Yess but not always