There has been a lot of debate over whether or not someone you meet online can be an actual friend, even if you don't meet them. I would like to argue that, yes, internet friends, are still real friends. Sometimes people assume that since you haven't met someone, you don't really know what they are like, and while I also agree with that statement at some level, part of me also believes that some people may be more inclined to show their true personality to someone they haven't met but engage in regular conversation with because they won't feel judged, or maybe they feel like they are in a safe space.

I've had many online friends as well as real world friends. I love them both equally. Just because I see someone every day, that doesn't automatically make them my best friend. For instance, some of my closest friend don't live anywhere near me now because we've all gone to college in different areas.

One friend is now in Connecticut, one in New Jersey, one in California, a few in Florida, and so on and so forth. I grew up with some of these people, does the fact that now we live hours away make them any less my best friends? I talk with these people every day, so why wouldn't they be my friends?

Now, I believe that the same goes for my friends whom I have met online. Some of my friends don't even live in the same country as me, but I still talk to them every day. We have similar interests, we gossip together, and we even tell each other when something is wrong. I have a group chat with friends from all over the place where we all just talk about Star Wars, Disney, art, school, growing up, and more. Should these people that I confide in, not be called my friend? I'd argue that some of those friends make me happier than some people I associate myself with now.

If someone is close to you, and you love them, I truly believe that they are your friend, 5 miles away or 5,000 miles away.