A secret 🤫:
Hive friends were actually one of the first online friends I've made. In the past, I never really believed in making connections with people you've never met in your life(physically), it felt absurd.
I used to think, "How can someone I've never seen or spoken to in real life actually be my friend?" But then, the internet happened.
Chess ♟ was the bridge between me and the first online friend I had. We played via ChessNode on telegram and then got talking. She ended up introducing me to Hive and we got closer.
Hive was the platform that got me into a community and even opened me up to making more online friends. I met 
[ IMAGE IS MINE ]
What Makes Online Friendships Different
Online friendships remove the barriers such as distance, appearance and even that quick judgement people often have. You get to know people through words and shared interests rather than looks or status. It's like a friendship built on pure communication.
Although there are limits, you can't truly tell when a person is happy or sad. That lack of physical presence makes it hard to fully connect. But still, its amazing how some of these friendships could still be very tight even across continents.
I have had friends I met online check-in on me when I've been quiet for a while and even sick. I was so surprised one time when my online friend texted me consecutively for days to check-up on me when I was sick. Even my real friends that we've been together often forget to do that kind gesture.
Online vs Face to Face Friendships
The perks of face to face friendships that I personally love is being able to read the body-language. I like being able to observe your movement, how you speak, your face gestures and all other things that you can't detect via text. Extra perks is that you can hug, hang out, and even share physical experiences that strengthen the bond.
Online friendship on the other hand is about consistency and keeping up with the conversation as often as possible.
For instance, I have Hive friends that are almost like real people I know. We vibe, share job opportunities, support each-others growth and even celebrate milestones. The connection feels so genuine, even if we've never physically met.
Would it be different if we met in real life?
Probably. Maybe we would bond faster, or maybe the looks and status might even up being a barrier.
But I think what makes online friendship beautiful is the mystery. Its interesting and feels so genuine knowing someone deeply through their words and thoughts alone.
Think about this too 🧠. You would have made some online friends that don't speak the same language as you but you still vibe. With online translators, it makes communication and rapport easier. Unlike having to know each-other face to face. The language would be a huge barrier.
[ Image Generated With Googles NanoBanana ]
My Honest Take
I don't think online friendships can fully replace real-life ones, but they could complement them. We're in a digital age and honestly some of the most loyal people you'd ever meet might be continents away and might not even be in your current vicinity.
So while I love and appreciate face to face friendships, I don't underestimate the online one and it might just be those strangers behind those screens that would make you enjoy more from life.