Online friendships are easier as long as they are limited to online world only.

Yes, I've had that experience.

I think friendships in general are hard

Agree one hundred percent with above
Easy to start but harder to really maintain that connection long term
You can’t like go to the movies with them or something so you have to engage fully with your words at all times

Just the same

Way easier online 😅

Harder. I'm a people person but I've found it challenging online because I only have words on the screen to go by. When I'm face to face, I can sense how people are responding through their body language and facial expressions and there's feedback through physical touch and genuine laughter but of course that's missing online. It's not always easy to predict how people are going to respond and it's hurtful when people don't respond how you expect them to.

Interesting question. I think it’s about finding people who are on the same page about their definition of online friendship. Mine has definitely changed over the years. Early on there was a lot of in-depth private messaging with a few people along with the usual back and forth with them (and others) out on the public boards. These days it’s almost all friendships out in public. Just don’t have the bandwidth to commit to more.

I think sometimes there’s more of an expectation of regularity and frequency of communication online. That’s basically all the friendship is about. So that could be one reason.