Would you say internet friends are valid?

Valid? Who gets to decide if your friendship with someone online is valid or not? That really depends upon the two people involved and what they invest in the online friendship.

There can be many positives as well as many negatives to an online friendship, but that's true with the friend from just down the street.

I would submit an online friendship can develop and thrive... even evolve into an eventual meetup.

So, is it a valid friendship? That's up to you to decide.

ArminArlert · 22-25, M

@Ontheroad Maybe valid was the wrong word. But you are correct about who exactly decides whether a friendship is valid. Online friends can be a little problematic, especially when someone young is concerned.

Budwick · 70-79, M

Well, maybe not so much like can you help me move to my new apartment kind of friend, but join me online to jam it to someone that disagrees - you bet!

SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M

Yes absolutely.

However, I think there is a marked difference between the relationships you have online and the ones you have in real life.

SlaveEt · 36-40, F

Depends on the connection. It is possible. I know I have a couple I would love to meet in person🤷‍♀️

Morvoren · F

No.

SW-User

Northwest · M

Yes. I am friends with some people I've only interacted with online only, back from the pre-AOL days, when we were connected through the original USENET.

DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F

Yes, I have met many of my closest and longest friends online.

Bexsy

Depends on how you looking at it. One of my longest friends. Im talking 20+ I've flown to Rhode Island to visit him. He flew here to visit me. Of course after I got married that stopped because my ex didn't like it. And now his wife wouldn't like it. So now we're email and phone friends. But it's a friendship that lasted this long

ElwoodBlues · M

Some are, some aren't. I have some internet friends here that I'm fond of; others that I'm concerned about. And I've been able to provide a small amount of support to one or two folks. Internet friends will never replace IRL friends, but it doesn't mean they are completely excluded from the category of friends.

Dlrannie · 31-35, F

Some are and some aren’t 🙂

ArminArlert · 22-25, M

@Dlrannie Yeah, but it's hard to weed out the ones who aren't.

PerfectIllusion · 41-45, F

Online friends are just as valuable to me as my real life friends. Honestly, my close online friend(s) probably know more about me than some of my real life friends do. I can share more of my personal issues without fear of judgment or being scrutinized to others in our circle.

Ghostinthemachine · M

Only the ones that validate me

huskyguy89 · 31-35, M

I'd say they can be MORE valid. My best friend (whom I'm going to meet tomorrow irl) is a person I spend more time with than anyone (we play video games all the time lol and DnD online and vid calls with him and my other friend who just so happens to be his wife)