Friendships, a key component in everyone’s life, allow people to blossom and grow in a welcoming environment.  A person’s wellbeing and mental health rely on healthy friendships.  Everyone’s definition of a friend differs, but how should you meet them? 

Means of communication became more accessible as technology rapidly advanced in the 21st century. People connect on opposite ends of the globe with the press of a button. One would assume the internet makes creating friendships much easier, but others believe that people shouldn’t consider long-distance friendships friends at all. 

“I believe that how you meet someone and spend time with them doesn’t limit the strength of the bond of friendship. I know multiple amazing people purely online that I never would’ve met and gotten close to otherwise due to distance. Some of my online relationships are in fact stronger than my [in real life] relationships as the internet can often make it easier for certain people to open up to each other,” resident of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Miguel Davies said. 

Younger generations increasingly turn to the internet to create friendships in a new way. Difficulties such as distance do not phase them as they maintain friendships around the world. In the end, it all depends on how well both parties communicate with each other. 

“I personally don’t think there is a difference. I believe if you can connect face to face, you can also connect through video chat or messages,” NC junior Shelby Dory said.

Taking remote learning into consideration, most people do not see their friends and peers from school much anymore, and during quarantine, people have communicated through only video chat or text messages. Most have appeared to manage this sudden shift in communication. One can compare this shift in communication to how people communicate with internet friends. People in quarantine have communicated with their peers the same way a person with internet friends would communicate with them. 

The debate continues whether online or real-life friends communicate better, in the end, it all relies on each person’s ability and willingness to communicate despite the distance. While people may struggle to communicate long-distance, those who take the steps to do so create plenty of new opportunities and friendships for years to come.