having internet friends is the same as having irl friends but backwards. when you first meet someone irl the first thing you see is your face, and the first thing you learn is their name. maybe you ask where they're from, what their family is like, what they like to do in their free time. you have to figure out if you want to be friends. but if you make friends over the internet, you already have a shared interest. you might learn each other's routines, timezones, different habits. but learning their real name is a big deal. face reveals are an even bigger deal. the things you usually first learn about someone are some of the last things you learn about someone you meet online. you're making friends, but backwards.