Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

What are the pros and cons of making friends online?

302 Answers
Last Updated: 06/19/2022 at 6:34pm
Take the first step toward feeling better
Begin your therapy journey today and receive $25 off (use code 25OFF7C)
Moderated by

Lisa Groesz, PhD

Psychologist

With evidenced based therapies, we find the root of the problem together to implement solutions. We all face crises, transitions, or disorders at some time.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
June 27th, 2018 5:53am
Pros are that you can feel comfortable in sharing your secrets or that you can share and in return get some personal experience. The con however is that in online you're not 100% sure who you're talking to
Anonymous
June 10th, 2018 2:34am
Pros: You can be anonymous and share personal information easily. Distance is not a problem. You can connect with likeminded people and meet new people. You have someone to talk to. You can overcome social anxiety. Cons: It can be dangerous as you do not really know who you are talking to. There is a lack of face to face contact. They can disappear easily without any trace. Predators There are more to each category. Just remember to be safe and be smart!
Profile: SupportiveSockMonkey
SupportiveSockMonkey
May 2nd, 2018 7:21pm
Making friends online is wonderful, however it has many risks. It is important to not reveal any private details, this is because the other person could be a catfish (liar) and could be trying to obtain something personal from you. This includes covering identity theft, grooming or even just exploitation. However not everyone on the internet is out to get you! but it is important to take steps to protect yourself from those who could harm you. This includes not revealing private information, don't do anything you don't want to, tell them if they are making you feel uncomfortable and block and report them if they are threatening or upsetting you. Keep safe out there.
Profile: endearingLion70
endearingLion70
April 21st, 2018 11:38am
For some people it is easier to talk to people online and so it is a way of making friends that is easy and not threatening. Still since it means connecting with strangers the same danger as striking relations with a total strangers are the cons.
Anonymous
March 28th, 2018 4:02am
Pros: Easier to meet like-minded people, can meet people from anywhere in the world, not as awkward. Cons: You might never actually meet them, could be catfish.
Profile: tygaasia
tygaasia
January 7th, 2018 3:41am
Pros: 1. You have someone to express what you are feeling in the present moment 2. You dont have the feeling that you are isolated Cons: 1. Internet is a bad place to be trusted on anyone cause we dont know if the friend is really a friend or has a hidden mask that might hamper us. 2. Hackers might steal our personal information while browsing the internet
Profile: EmRivale
EmRivale
December 21st, 2017 10:07pm
You might meet some incredible people who will have fantastic impacts on your life, however you may feel the strain of the distance if they are particularly far away. Although they might be a virtual shoulder to cry on, sometimes we just need somebody by our side.
Profile: Nasrz8
Nasrz8
November 22nd, 2017 12:38pm
Pros : 1) You get to know a new culture. 2) For some people, it's easier to interact than face to face. 3) It is faster and easier to talk & meet. Forget about crowded streets and having to wear specific clothes for the outing :) _____________________________________________________ Cons: 1) It is hard to know and trust the person online 100 % as you can't see his/her emotions and interactions. 2) You won't have to meet so you won't go out to the fresh air much. 3) you won't enjoy some of the perks of meeting a person in person, like talking a walk together, physical interactions like holding hands...etc
Profile: TeruHuskyLover
TeruHuskyLover
September 1st, 2017 1:12pm
From my personal experience, the cons are the possibility of never meeting, not being able to spend time together personally but all of that is countered by online friends being almost always the ones who are there when you need them, who wipe your tears, who always have time for you even if it is only online. They are not simply "online friends", they are true friends, and for me a family.
Profile: YouCanTellMePH
YouCanTellMePH
August 11th, 2017 1:28am
Pros: There are things that is easier to be said online. So you will not feel pressured because they do not know you to an actual extent that might help you feel comfortable. Cons: Sometimes we conceal ourselves. We tend to establish our images to what we wish we are. We tend not to tell the truth and say things that will be appropriate and interesting to them. It is like conforming in a different way.
Anonymous
July 12th, 2017 8:21pm
The pros is that you can get connected to people from all around the world, and that you can gind someone with the same interest as you and that the circle of people you'll meet will be biggger, the cons is that maybe those people are faking, and maybe it's an imaginary person lying and pretending to be from the opposite sex(eg: a girl) and get you in trouble
Profile: LunasCares
LunasCares
June 21st, 2017 3:16pm
PROS: Easy Access Social Buffer Quantity and global reach CONS: Anonimy Trust Lack of physical presences time zones
Profile: StardustEyes
StardustEyes
June 14th, 2017 9:39am
Making friends online can be rewarding, as long as you know how to choose them wisely. Pros: -discovering new cultures and people from all around the world -you don't have to be phisically there to talk to them -since they don't know you in real life, I say, it's easier to open up to them -Mutual interests, depending on the situation -it is easy to end the conversation when you have had enough, never crossing your boundaries -easier way to communicate for people with social anxiety and not only Cons: -You can't be close to each other phisically -You can't know for sure who they are or who they are pretending to be -Lack of body language due to the phisycal distance, which is also a big factor in a conversation -Safety always has to be a consideration, not knowing who someone is can be fun, but you can be talking to a dangerous person and have no idea In conclusion, please be careful how you choose your online friends and be attentive on which information you share with them. If you pick them wisely, they can even be some of the best people you have met!
Anonymous
June 8th, 2017 3:58am
Several pros of making new friends online include the chance to meet people from all over the world. This is something which in the 21st century has become available to everyone who has access to the internet. Another pro could be the ability to have easier communication. There are also some cons in making friends online, perhaps the biggest one is the fact that it is sometimes easy for people to become prey to predators looking to harass, or scam people online.
Anonymous
June 7th, 2017 7:19am
Pros : 1. You dont need to go anywhere to meet them. You just need at least internet connection. 2. Based on my personal experience, if you find friends in the right place, they can be very kind hearted and sweet. 3. They are easy to keep in touch with. Cons : 1. You don't know whether this person is faking or not 2. It's a challenge to meet them in real life, because maybe they are not like what you always expected 3. You don't know them Well, I know it's exciting to have online friends. But there are things that you still need to consider
Profile: sereneWriting55
sereneWriting55
November 19th, 2016 7:28pm
I have a group of friends I met online over ten years ago. Although they don't live near me so we can't go out to do things together physically (although I have met them all at one point and time) they have been there for me through thick and thin - and through all my moves from one state to another. So I think online friendships can be very rewarding - but yeah - sometimes it's nice to have someone to do things with physically.
Anonymous
March 27th, 2017 1:08am
You can meet people all around the world but the may live too far away from you, but it's really cool
Profile: cactusmilk
cactusmilk
February 25th, 2017 8:09pm
The pros are that they're usually amazing and will always support you through tough times. The cons are that they're almost always far away from where you live so you can't meet them in real life unless you fly over there.
Profile: EsclavoDelPecado
EsclavoDelPecado
February 5th, 2017 3:31pm
Pros are that you can chat to so many people and become quite a cosmopolitan person but a con is that you don't really have the safety of real life friends.
Profile: charmingPerspective45
charmingPerspective45
February 4th, 2017 10:03pm
They aren't always trustworthy and you do not know them so increases risk factors and it might help you feel connected to some people at times. Depends on the person online.
Profile: mindfulcyclist
mindfulcyclist
January 21st, 2017 12:18am
Making relationships online can create geographically-boundless ties that widen points-of-view and foster support from easy online messaging forums. My own sister from PA, thanks to an artist website where she posted her illustrations, met her girlfriend from NC of 5 years, also an artist. For a vacation, my sister drove to NC to met here, and eventually they moved in together in DE. However, spending too much time online can also lead to sedentary lifestyles and absence of face-to-face communication in daily lives. You may feel unfulfilled or lethargic from lack of activity.
Anonymous
December 30th, 2016 8:02pm
The pros are being able to meet new people and get to know new people but the cons are that not all people are to be trusted as there is dangerous people in the world.
Profile: strangePerson
strangePerson
December 2nd, 2016 9:41am
Pros: Maybe you don't have enough friends in real life, and friends online are more tolerant to you than others Cons: You never know if they are who they say they are.
Profile: Blueteaburrito26
Blueteaburrito26
November 24th, 2016 1:07am
The good part is having someone to talk to about anything with due to the confidentiality you are under when talking (as you should withold your name and so on), also they can give you a new perspective on things be that through a different culture or even a religious perspective and they can just be amazing as a quick cheer up! However there is a possibility they are faking their age or even their interest which can stress you out more than you need, as well as the fact that online you can misinterpret text ever so easily and misjudge the persons intentions completely
Profile: Elvalight
Elvalight
September 30th, 2016 11:38pm
Pros; you will have a much easier time finding people who share your interests and some will be really nice and friendly cons: they could be murderers
Anonymous
July 22nd, 2016 5:46pm
Making friends online can be a great way to boost self asthma and make you feel wanted and love but sometimes you can run into people who want to be more than 'just friends' Sexual predators is no laughing matter and you should always be careful who you trust.
Profile: SilentGrace
SilentGrace
September 1st, 2016 5:59pm
You have a bigger group of people that might have the same interests as you, might have experienced the same things and through the anonymity many people act more natural around strangers because they have nothing to lose. At the same time they live far away (which does give safety, but makes it harder to meet in person) and it's harder to know if someone isn't just pretending to be the way he is.
Profile: MegX98
MegX98
September 24th, 2016 10:02pm
It always helps to talk to someone who's non biased about your situation. It's lovely to know there are always people out there who care about you. The cons are living so far away!
Profile: MKDavis
MKDavis
October 10th, 2016 8:13pm
Pros: Will be someone to talk to Make you feel less lonely Support you during difficult times Cons: May abandon you Can be trolls and be very mean to you
Profile: LavenderPalmTrees
LavenderPalmTrees
November 2nd, 2016 3:58pm
You can meet a huge range of poeple that you may not ordinarily meet in real life. However, it can be hard to meet up with them as they may live a huge distance away.