There are times when real life can be too toxic or negative to bear alone, which is why most people seek comfort from the Internet. This is a place where people go to escape their current situations because no one on the Internet will judge them for being their real selves. In this virtual space, anyone can be anything they want to be.
And more often than not, escaping to the online world can lead to good things, such as friendships. People from all over the world can meet and interact on online platforms, which can then lead to friendships that are strengthened over time. It can happen through a shared love for games, make-up, or even TV shows.
So, who’s to say that your online friendships aren’t real? They’re just as meaningful as any other friendships you have in real life, maybe even more so because you communicate and bond frequently. Your shared interests and similarities with these people you’ve never met can bring you closer, which is as real as most friendships can go.
Where to Find Internet Friends?
Most of the time, these friendships happen out of the blue. It can begin with a simple comment about how fond you are of an artist’s work on Twitter or how much you enjoyed watching the short movie of an aspiring filmmaker on YouTube. The point is that your friendships can start from anywhere, and you can make friends out of anyone. If you don’t know where to find your kindred souls, you can start here:
Online Communities
Communities are built by like-minded individuals who share a mutual love for their passions, hobbies, and creations. Just like you, they were drawn to one another because they were looking for other people who shared their interests, and they started attracting more people into their makeshift group.
Since then, they could have easily grown bigger to accommodate other people who shared their interests and decided to establish relationships with one another. This is the beauty of online communities. In these virtual spaces, everyone is free to be who they are without having to hide under pretenses just to fit into a certain standard.
If you want to find people who share your passions and interests, you can look for online communities that revolve around those subjects. Once you find a platform that you believe can help you find what you’re looking for, you can even use their all-in-one community software to make it easier to engage with other members of the group.
It may be frightening to approach other people at first, but keep in mind that online, no one knows who you are or what you’re insecure about. So, don’t let your fear of the unknown keep you from starting small conversations with the people you admire. And always remember to be kind because everyone needs places where they can be free of the toxicity of the real world.
Social Media Platforms
If you’re not looking to find a specific genre of people online, you can also find potential friendships on social media platforms. Today, there’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and so many other platforms that you can use to find people who share the same interests or hobbies that you have.
Of course, it would be broader than what you will find in an online community setting, but it can be a good start seeing as you’re not looking for something specific. On these social media platforms, you’ll be exposed to people from all walks of life, from different parts of the world. And that can make it easier to create friendships on the Internet.
For instance, you may find aspiring fashion designers on Instagram or TikTok who you admire, so you leave a comment on their posts talking about how inspiring their passion is to you. There may only be a small chance that they see your comment, but if they do, it can start an entire conversation that can lead to a friendship.
If they don’t respond, but react to your comment, then at least you would know that you made someone happy just by simply appreciating their craft. The most important thing about Internet friendships is that you don’t force it upon people. If you become friends, then good, but if you don’t, then you shouldn’t harbor any ill feelings.
The Internet can be a mixture of both good and bad things. If you search too hard or stay long enough, you might just come across content that will scar you for life. But being on the Internet can also lead to something good, such as your Internet friendships. So if you’re feeling lonely at home, always remember that another person halfway across the world is happy to have found a friend in you.