• Trent University

• PHIL 2390H

Final Essay: Internet Friends Can Be Real

Trent University
Word Count: 1213

INERNET FRIENDS CAN BE REAL 2
Final Essay: Internet Friends Can Be Real
The evolution of the Internet has not only impacted the way we see and find things, but
also the way we connect and interact with people. The argument in focus is if people can actually
be real friends through the Internet. Cocking and Matthews (2000) state that it is difficult to get a
full grasp of the nature of someone's true personality and that online relationships lack physical
connection, which is a vital piece in friendship building (p. 231). Therefore, Cocking and
Matthew (2000) are against the notion that people can be friends with people through the Internet
(p. 231). In contrast, Briggle (2008) argues that due to changing times, online friendships can
strive (p. 78). Briggle (2008) counteracts Cocking and Matthews’ (2000) argument using real life
similes to compare and relate the friendships formed both on and offline. Ultimately, I support
Briggle’s claim that Internet friends are indeed real.
The Internet allows people to pass barriers that people in real life may not be able to, such
as distance, social anxiety, etc. This can especially be applicable to people making friends. The
Internet provides a fast way to connect and interact with people from all regions and
backgrounds. Briggle (2008) relates the experience of a deported soldier with his pen pal to the
experience of people meeting and communicating over the Internet (p. 73). This provides a great
visual for readers to envision the reality of the possibility of such friendships occurring and
maintaining. Unlike online friendships, you are confined to only the people you physically
interact with every day. Distance can negatively hurt a friendship, as Cocking and Matthews
(2000) state, that solely depended on physical interaction (p. 223). In contrast, online friendships
can thrive no matter the physical distance between. It can easily connect you to people of similar
interests, like book, movie, and music genres. Similar to real life, people can create clubs and
groups, churches and entertainment arenas to connect people of similar interests.