'Online friends are not the same as friends in real life'. This is a radical statement. However, we can largely agree that online friends are not the same as friends in real life. Online friends can be defined as friends or acquaintances with whom you interact exclusively through the Internet medium. Real life friends, on the other hand, are friends we have met and interact in society. So can you make real friends on the Internet? It can be argued that recent advances in information technology have allowed online friends to be the same as friends in real life. Because not only is there inherent risk in developing online relationships, there are also things you can do together with friends in real life that can't be done with online friends. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Online friends can be just as good as friends in real life. Advances in information technology have allowed people living on different continents to know each other well without even meeting face to face once. For example, video calls have allowed people to "meet" face to face through the use of video streaming. This way, online friends will be able to interact in the same way that friends do in real life. For example, applications like Skype offer free video calling services over the Internet, allowing online friends to interact face-to-face, just as friends do in real life. However, friends in real life are superior to online friends, as with friends in real life, you will be able to meet and interact in person, and you will be able to better evaluate the person's character. This is because, with 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 hindering the relationship in the end. Furthermore, online friends who want to deepen their online acquaintances usually arrange a meeting with the other party, making the transition from online friends to real-life friends. You also couldn't go out to eat or meet up for a chat with friends online, especially if the other person lives in another country. Therefore, there are some fun activities that cannot be done together with friends online. Furthermore, having friends online is also a form of risk. This is because on the Internet you don't know if the person is who they say they are, while in chat rooms and on social networks people can choose not to enter their real name and hide their true identity. These people pose a threat to the unwary Internet user, as they may have ulterior motives such as intending to steal your identity. So, when making friends online, you also need to be careful. This will lead many people to have reservations about creating or strengthening online friendships. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude, that online friends are not the same as real life friends. This is because you can interact better with friends in real life and be better able to foster the relationship. Additionally, there is a risk associated with establishing and fostering relationships online. However, with today's technology, it is easier than ever for online friends to transition into friends in real life, through the use of technologies such as video calling. Therefore, online friends are not the same as.