Online Friendships vs. IRL: What’s the Difference?

We’ve all heard it before:

“You don’t even know them like that. They’re just some random person online.”

LMAO okay? And yet that “random person” might’ve been the one who talked me down from a breakdown at 2 a.m. while my IRL friend left me on read.

ONLINE FRIENDSHIPS:

Pros:

• You meet people based on energy and shared interests, not just geography.

• Opening up can be easier without eye contact and social pressure.

• There’s something oddly comforting about texting someone who’s halfway across the world but gets you.

• They’ll spam “U OK???” if you go quiet for too long (🫶).

Cons:

• Time zones are fighting for their life.

• Miscommunications happen—text can’t always show tone or emotion.

• Sometimes they disappear. No warning, no closure, just… gone.

• The “I wish I could hug you for real” ache is so real sometimes.

IRL FRIENDSHIPS:

Pros:

• Physical presence matters. Eye contact, hugs, laughing together? UNMATCHED.

• You build memories tied to places—locker convos, birthday sleepovers, movie nights.

• Sometimes it’s easier to bond over shared experiences like school, sports, or events.

• You can tell when something’s off just by looking at them.

Cons:

• Drama travels fast in real-life friend groups.

• Social pressure can make it hard to be your real self.

• If things go south, avoiding them = impossible (they’re literally everywhere).

• You might outgrow them, but feel stuck out of guilt or habit.

MY TAKE: Connection doesn’t need a physical location to matter. Online friendships are real. IRL friendships are real. The only fake ones are the ones where the care isn’t mutual. “A real friend is someone who shows up. Whether that’s at your door or in your DMs.” So shoutout to my internet besties and my IRL ride-or-dies. I love y’all both 💗

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Comment below!!!