Those Social Network Friends are as Real as your RL Friends
I was checking out a blog post a while back that asked the question, “Are Internet Friends True Friends?”
Though a simple question, it really left me thinking for a while. Recently, interacting on a social network has become a big part of my daily internet routine. In fact, I can’t browse the internet without being simultaneously logged in to pownce, twitter, or streamy.
I have used features such as chat and forums to communicate in the past, and I have met some great people there. It never really amounted to much though, and the relationship only went as far as the hobby or topic that brought us together. Conversations were very limited, and rarely did I know what was going on in any of their day to day lives. Social networks today encourage more solid relationships, and make it easier to communicate for the most part. They are not built on one central idea, which would limit the amount of diversity that you would run into on the site.
Back in early March, I was sent on a deployment that would last for 7 months. I am not really a big email person, but I ensured that I had the email addresses of some of my closest friends so that I could keep in touch while away. For the first few months this seemed to be an efficient means of communication. You know friends and emails though. After a while the emails slowed and the news of friends going to the beach and enjoying summer seemed to only encourage home sickness.
Then came pownce. I signed up for my account and started meeting funny and interesting people right from the start. Over the months, I have learned a lot more about some of the individuals there than I know about some of my real life friends. I have exchanged advice and humiliating episodes in life with other users, and upon signing up for new social networks, I follow these friends there and they follow me.
I haven’t had a chance to personally meet any of my new social network friends yet, but it is very common for friends to meet up to hang out or go to an event or some sort. This makes social networks a bridge or another method of meeting new friends that in some cases end up being very close friends that you hang out with frequently.
I have met quite a few friends online these past few months that I would consider “close”, and that’s why the article I mentioned above, sparked my interest. Though some of them I may never actually meet, they are still friends that I share ideas with and spend time enjoying the daily activities in their lives.
Check out the article and let me know what you think!
Posted in Social Networking
You have reached the personal blog of Howard O'Berry. I enjoy blogging about tech and current events, but being that this blog is personal, pretty much anything goes. You can catch me on 
Loren September 30th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I would say online friends are “close” but in a different way then friends you meet/see physically. Internet friends are great when your really bored, think of xbox live and the people you meet there.