Growing up I learned all the dangers of the Internet. I remember in middle school they started to show us how to stay safe online and how to never talk to anyone online because of the number of predators nowadays known as “catfish.” But for some reason, I was a silly, naive 14-year-old girl who felt friendless and turned to the Internet as an escape. So when my best friend messaged me as a stranger, I had no idea that that one simple conversation would turn into a four-year friendship with an unbreakable bond.
1. When you first met them, you never thought you’d be friends so long.
Seriously, me and my online friends met in the most innocent way, just striking up a conversation. Here we are two, three and four years later, and who would have thought that simple chat would lead to hours of video chat, endless conversations and a lifelong friendship.
2. They’re always there to listen.
No matter what I’m doing, if one of my friends calls me up after a two-day MIA period, then she can tell me her problems and I can go right into therapist mode and be her listening ear, and vice versa.
3. They’re unbiased.
They don’t know any of your friends in real life, or even your family. So if you have a problem, they literally don’t know anyone to have any sort of swayed opinion, except maybe in your favor.
4. You can go days, even weeks, without talking to them, but they still know you love them.
I went six (maybe more) months without talking to one of my Internet friends, and one day we messaged each other again and started talking like normal. People lose touch sometimes or get too busy, but the love is always there.
5. You don’t have to dress nicely when you see them because you don’t "see" them.
One of the many perks. You never have to worry about even changing out of the clothes before when you video chat, they don’t know what you were wearing.
6. Video chat is a lifesaver.
I can’t even explain how excited I was the first time I spoke to my best friend. All I could think was, "I knew I wasn’t getting catfished."
7. You’ll never forget how you guys met.
I have all my first conversations saved from each time I first spoke with my Internet friends. One I met because I thought my old boyfriend was gonna break up with me. The other was someone I met through our mutual favorite band. I’ll never forget these conversations, it’s what literally formed our friendships.
8. You never have to worry about them moving away.
If they move away, nothing’s gonna change. Your friendship lives through Facebook, iMessage and Twitter. You’re moving? Cool! Update me on what your new room looks like.
9. You plan to meet in real life someday.
On one end, I have met an Internet friend online (just so happened she lived 15 minutes away). On the other end, one lives in Pennsylvania. We tell each other every year this will be the year we meet. Does it happen? No, but maybe someday it will.
10. People think it’s weird you met online, but you know it’s not.
I love my Internet friends so much, I usually forget to mention I met them online. So when it does come into conversation, people are shocked. Yes, I met her online. It’s really not weird, I swear.
11. You know if you can do a long distance friendship, then you can do a long distance relationship.
Four years and counting for one of my friendships online. We’ve never met in person, and we don’t even talk every day. But that hasn’t stopped us from labeling each other best friends. A relationship? Bring it on.
12. You can tell them anything.
Again, they don’t know anyone in your real life. So if someone’s getting on your last nerve, then the last thing they’re gonna do is tell that person what you said. How are they gonna tell them?
