Facebook has taken friendship to a whole new level. Are these friendships real? Are in-person friendships better? Does it matter?
“John, don’t friend my Facebook friends! They aren’t your friends. You don’t even know them.”
“Yes, I do, Julia.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do!”
This scene has played out between my two youngest — ages 15 and 12 — more times than I care to count. BTW, my youngest has agreed to ask Julia before sending friend requests to her high school friends. Less angst.
Especially after I threatened to put Facebook in time out!
Then my darlings turned on me: “Mom, doesn’t even know her friends. Her Facebook friends aren’t real friends. At least we know ours.”
The hanging question: Can you or I develop and sustain real friendships on social media?
My answer is “yes.” One simple reason: I’ve done it.
What about you? Have you met a new person on Facebook, become friends, gotten to know one another, and managed to keep the friendship on track through email, Skype, e-cards, even in-person visits?
I would love for you to share your experiences by leaving a comment.
Here is one of my several examples: Her nickname ~ Wanda-ful. We first “met” on Twitter about three years ago after she tweeted that she was praying for me. After the third or fourth such tweet, I had to check out her Facebook profile. What if she were a satanist? Creepy.
She passed my “investigation.” 🙂 Over time we phoned each other, sent cards, and even lunched at Panera after she showed up at my doorstep. She’s from the West Coast. I live in the Midwest. She was traveling through and set up the “surprise.” (My husband was in on it.)
When I saw her face to face in person, tears sprang. We hugged. Amazing. Sweet.
Friendship. For real.
Psst. . .Did you read day 4 of “31 days of friendship”? Click here to read “The Woman Who Wrote the Friendship Book.”
Share your FB friendship story in Comments. Thanks!
You Are Blessed!
A log error erased the many comments left her as of Oct. 7. Here are the copy/pasted comments. The problem has been resolved for future posts. YAY!
Becca October 5, 2011 at 1:32 pm #
I met Lucy on Facebook, and she has become such a huge part of my life, and my walk. My life would be so very different without her as my friend!
Thank you so much for taking so much time to do these 31 days of friendship!
Lucy October 5, 2011 at 1:47 pm #
Thanks, Becca. Another real friendship that started through Facebook! More stories, anyone? Please share. 🙂
Linda Brown October 5, 2011 at 6:22 pm #
Hi Lucy, I would like to tell you about an amazing friendship that I have made on Facebook. You see I am adopted and was trying to find my biological mother. One day on Facebook I looked up adoption groups and registered. Within a few days I received an offer of help from a truly remarkable “angel” we will just call JoAnne. Fast forward six months–not only was JoAnne able to locate my biological sister and arrange a truly wonderful reunion but we have become as close as “two peas in a pod.” I feel closer to her than my biological family members. We have shared some extremely happy, sad, comical, as well as debating conversations on Facebook. We have made a pact that one day we will meet and give each other a great big hug 🙂 God truly blessed me when he put JoAnne in my life and I will forever thank Facebook for this opportunity.
Lucy October 5, 2011 at 7:55 pm #
Linda, your story is amazing. Friendship friends ARE real friends. On my Facebook pages, others have shared other wonderful stories. Some have met several of their FB friends IRL (in real life).
I have little doubt you and JoAnne will meet one day. Big hugs. Lots of happy tears. I am glad for you both. 🙂
Linda October 6, 2011 at 10:39 am #
Hi Lucy!
I too met JoAnne on facebook and have come to love her dearly. Let’s see…..are facebook friends, real friends? What is a friend? To me, a friend is someone I can pour my heart out to, and they actually listen and share. A friend is someone that cares enough to want to make me smile if I’m sad, not judge me if I make a mistake, and if I ask them to pray with me , or for me, their response is, “Dear Heavenly Father”. So yes, that describes JoAnne and I consider her a very dear friend. I’ve never met her in person, but I know her in my heart. To me, that’s what is important and that’s what a friend truly is.
Lucy October 6, 2011 at 12:10 pm #
I met JoAnne on Facebook too. 🙂 Linda, I soooooo agree with your beautiful definition of a real friend. Beautiful. Thanks for your comment.
amanda chance October 6, 2011 at 1:47 pm #
I have met many friends on Facebook ! My definition of friend is someone whom you can be yourself with whether you are sad ,mad or glad ! My life has taken many twists and turns as most peoples lives do ! At one point I found myself at a womens shelter feeling lonely and broken , my friend whom I have never met in person sent me a care package which included some of the necessities of home which you dont miss until you dont have them ! Like Becca said I am blessed to have found you Lucy as a friend without your godly guidance Im not sure where I would be ! I could probaly spend all day writing things about different facebook friends and all the wonderful things I have learned from each and every one of them ,God is faithful and I believe no friendship whether facebook friends or outside cyber space are accidents . God has a purpose for each friendship !
I scored BIG TIME when God put us in each others path! I am eternally grateful that we are TRULY FRIENDS.
The gift of your friendship has been a huge blessing to me more times than I can count – even when you don’t know it!
Yes, social media can birth relationships – but time, God and our hearts complete the transaction.
Love you, Lucy! <3
Thank you,Wanda.
Your gift of friendship has been a huge blessing to me too. Miss you. Love you.
Blessings, Lucy 🙂