“Online Friends Are Not Equal to Real Friends”. This is a radical statement. However, we can to a large extent agree that online friends are not equal to real-life friends. Online friends can be defined as friends or acquaintances with whom one interacts solely via the Internet. Real friends, on the other hand, are friends we have met and interact with in society. So, can you make real friends on the Internet? It can be argued that recent advancements in information technology have made online friends equal to friends in real life. Since not only is there inherent risk in developing relationships online, there are also things that one can do with friends in real life that cannot be done with friends online. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Online friends can be just as good as friends in real life. Advances in information technology have made it possible for people living on different continents to know each other well without even meeting once. For example, video calls have allowed people to “meet” face to face through video streaming. Thanks to this, online friends will be able to interact in the same way as friends in real life. For example, applications such as Skype offer free video calling services over the Internet, allowing online friends to interact face-to-face, just like friends in real life. However, friends in real life are superior to friends online. like with friends in real life, one can meet and interact in person, and will thus be better able to assess the person's character. Indeed, with our online friends, we usually only see lines of text in instant messages and are unable to see the person's body language and tone. This severely limits the extent to which online friends can get to know each other, thus handicapping the relationship over time. In addition, online friends who want to deepen their online acquaintances will usually arrange meetings with the other party, thereby making the transition from online friends to real-life friends. Additionally, one wouldn't be able to go out for a meal or meet up to chat with friends online, especially if the other party lives in another country. Therefore, some enjoyable activities cannot be done with friends online. Additionally, having friends online is also a form of risk. Indeed, on the Internet we do not know if the person is who they say they are, because in discussion forums and on social networks people can choose not to put their real name and hide their true identity . These people pose a threat to the unwary Internet user because they may have ulterior motives such as intending to steal your identity. Therefore, when making friends online, one must also be careful. This will cause many people to be hesitant to form or deepen friendships online. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude, that online friends are not equal to real friends. friends. Indeed, we can interact better with friends in real life and be better able to develop the relationship. There is also risk associated with establishing and growing relationships online. However, with today's technology, it's easier than ever for online friends to become friends..