I think it's common for everyone to end up with an online friend in this day and age. There're so many different ways to meet people nowadays with all the social media there is. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. Not everyone out there is really talking to you genuinely and to be your friend. I have first-hand experience. Here are some tips that I've found through my experience.
I personally have friends in Sweden, Turkey, Germany, Pakistan, Canada and the UK. All of these friends I've met online on different social media sites. I've met my friend from England and my friend from Germany in real life when I traveled there during the summer. They were amazing and I'm happy to have them as friends. My friend in Turkey is one of my best friends and my friend in Sweden is someone I can never forget. These are the good ones. Not everyone will find friendships like I have. I have talked to a LOT of people over the Internet and I've gotten really good at reading people over the web.
Do's
Never try and be someone you are not when talking to someone. People often think that because you are behind a screen that you can be anyone you want. If you start something off on a lie it will not end well for you or the other person. If anything thing you should be able to be yourself completely because you're behind a screen and this is someone you haven't met. They are getting to know you and have no way to judge you. Play the 20 questions game and make to sure to ask questions to know more about their everyday life and what they are like. You want to get a feel for the type of person they are. I'm lucky that I've made good friends from the internet and found the people that I have.
Don't's
There are many more don'ts than do's. Do not share your personal information such as address and phone number until you know someone more in different ways. Ask them for their Skype, Snapchat, Facetime, something that you can see them face to face and talk out loud. If someone tells you that they can't turn on their camera because it's broken delete them right away. I can guarantee you that 99.9 percent that they are lying because they don't want you to see who they really are. I tried to give multiple the benefit of the doubt and thought, hey, maybe it really is broken. Believe me, if someone gives you an excuse as to why they can't talk face to face with you it's because they are trying to hide something from you.
Another don't would be to never send someone a risque or nude picture of yourself, especially if they are someone that doesn't want to have a real conversation with you. If someone only ever messages you and says, "what's up" and then says something pervy or "I'm horny" delete them. They will try and persuade you that they like you and such, but they are only saying this to help get off in the end. Again, if you haven't seen them either do not send them anything. They will end up trying to blackmail you.
Trusting the wrong person online can really mess up your life. It will hurt you in the end if you give someone you don't really know too much information. Make them prove themselves before investing yourself in them.
