How To Make Friends Online

The Internet has made everyone closer—not in physical space but in convenient accessibility. This is why more people are getting into social networking websites, blogs, and other areas in digital space.

In fact, for some people, the online world has gained a bigger role in their lives. It is now the online space where they interact with family, friends, and colleagues. In some cases, it is even possible to make the Internet a place where one can make new friends. Consider the following tips when it comes to building online friendships.

Try out social websites or blogging

If you’re interested with the idea of meeting and making new friends online, the first step to do is to be present online. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Tumblr, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, and blogs—there are several ways by which you can establish your presence and connect with people online.

Be the supportive friend

Just because you are interacting through the Internet doesn’t mean that you can’t act like the way you would with a real-life friend. The expansive choices of technology can allow more means to interact and connect with people online, so you can support them in various ways.

A simple message asking them how their day was or how they are doing with a particular problem will go a long way. Think of it as an evolution of the late-night phone conversations that you would have with a real-time friend—online through the Internet this time.

Use video chats every once in a while

Online technology now involves websites such as Skype, which feature video chats from anywhere around the world.

Now, you can talk to your online-found friends without leaving the comforts of your home but also without having to sacrifice that inherent need to see the person you are talking to.

If there’s a difference between profile photos on Facebook and seeing a friend’s face offline, it has to be that reality factor. Profile photos have ultimately been handpicked to make sure that they feature the owner with the best angle or lighting in the picture. But with video chats, you can easily talk to your friends even if in your pajamas (if you’re already that close) and it would remind you of the sleepovers you used to do.

Try to set a meet offline

Despite the benefits of online friendships, there is still something about offline connections and relationships that make them last longer. Whether it’s the fact that a meet-up offline can give a more personal experience or that meeting in the real world allows you to talk in the way that God intended conversations to happen, meeting in real life has invaluable benefits.

Plan a lunch together or go on a weekend trip. A word of caution: you should only do meet-ups with friends whom you’ve been in contact for a long time. Remember, the Internet is still a place for prowlers who may be looking to harm others, and you don’t want to be one of their victims.

Be yourself

The basic rule in friendship is that you be yourself. Don’t fake it. Sincerity is hard to find these days, more so when you’re not present in real-time.

Also, don’t fall into the trap of quantity over quality. The main misconception of the online world is that the number of friends you have in a social website, the friendlier and more sociable you are. Wrong. Check out your Facebook page and count the number of friends you have. Now, count how many of them you really talk to on a regular or even occasional basis.