The simple answer is yes, of course, you can be friends with people you meet online. But it’s not as simple as we think. In actual life we meet some genuinely friendly people and those who aren’t, this is the same with those we meet online.
There are different people you will meet online and it may seem like a scary experience, but it isn’t. There are red flags we must look out for to not fall prey to either online bullying or catfishing and so on.
As times have changed and so much is happening in the digital world, instead of looking at it negatively we should look at it as an opportunity. We can talk to people across the world and learn more about different cultures all through our devices. It would be a lot harder to live through this pandemic if we weren’t in the digital age.
This pandemic has been a life-changing experience, don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to put this behind me, but it has also helped me meet some beautiful people. The first few months of quarantine were hard, not only was it boring but also nerve wrenching because of the uncertainty. This is when I joined the yes theory fam on discord, and I met some amazing people there. This is just one of the many communities that are there online whose goal is to never let you feel alone during a time of crisis.
If there is one tip, I can give it would be- see how you vibe with the other person. It's important to feel a positive vibe from the person, and I would say give them a few chances before setting an opinion about them.
It can so happen you connect more to the people you meet online and they feel more real than the friends you have made offline.
What do I mean by friends?
When I say friends I think of people who are supportive, loving and caring. They have my best interest at heart and will push me to do better. A bit of jealousy, teasing and fights are common among friends, but at the core of that lies love and respect for each other.
Time does not matter with friendship or relationships, time is just a concept. What matters is the connection you make with the other person and the bond that grows.
Red flags to look out for
Everything has its pros and cons, and meeting people online is no exception. It can be a hit or miss. You can even use these red flags when you use dating or other apps to meet people.
Your gut feeling tells you so (always listen to your gut)
They don’t respect your boundaries.
They are needy and constantly want your attention.
They are very secretive of their personal life.
They ask you personal information you aren’t comfortable sharing.
Some may only talk about themselves and their problems and never ask how you are.
You have to change yourself to get along with them. (Or the people around you tell you have changed negatively)
I would like to add, sometimes we just don’t get along with some people we meet online or they may give us a bad or negative vibe. It is okay to not want to be friends with certain people; you aren’t obligated to like them or become friends.
You have a choice and a say as to who you want in your life, that being said don’t just abandon people. You never know what someone is going through, so as common decency we can all be nice to each other.
I’ll end by saying, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. If someone online makes you uncomfortable, block and report them or give them a warning and be safe.
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