Modern computer technology has made a new kind of human relationship
possible: online friendship. {{U}} {{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}Are
online friendships as beneficial as face-to-face friendships? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of having virtual friends? Can people form strong
bonds online? Today these questions are the subject of lively debate.
Some people believe that the Internet is the best way to make new
friends. It's convenient, it's fast, and it allows to make contact with
different kinds of people from all over the world. When you use social
networking websites and chat rooms, you can easily find people with interests
and hobbies similar to yours. Information updates and photos add to the
experience. Making friends on the Internet is especially good for shy people who
feel uncomfortable in social situations. It's often easier to share thoughts and
feeling online. {{U}} {{U}} 2 {{/U}} {{/U}}They can make people
feel less lonely and help them solve problems. Although the
Internet can encourage friendship, it has a major disadvantages. {{U}}
{{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}} Online friends only tell you
what they want you to know. They sometimes exaggerate their good qualities and
hide the less positive ones, so you can't be sure of what they really like. That
is why you should not give personal information to anyone online unless you're
totally sure of who that person is. Can online friendship be as
meaningful as face-to-face ones? There are different points of view. Researchers
at the University of Southern California surveyed 2,000 households in the United
States. The results showed that more than 40 percent of participants feel "as
strongly about their online buddies" as they do about their "offline" friends.
{{U}} {{U}} 4 {{/U}} {{/U}}In contrast, there are many people
who believe that it's not possible to have deep relationships with online
friends. A young Indian software engineer, Lalitha Lakshmipathy, says, "it's
good to feel connected with many people, but all my e-buddies are not
necessarily my close friends." {{U}} {{U}} 5 {{/U}} {{/U}}They
say that it's hard to develop feelings of trust and connection when you don't
share experiences in person. People continue to express
different opinions about online friendship. However, most of them would agree
that virtual friendships must not replace face-to-face friendships. As one life
coach says, "A social networking site should only be the 'add on' in any
relationship." A. In addition, virtual friends can offer
emotional support. B. When you're not face to face, it's much
easier to deceive people. C. Many people would agree.
D. Researchers also found that it's not unusual for online friends to
become face-to-face friends. E. Online friends may be of help
in many ways. F. Online friends, or virtual friends, are people
who have become acquainted with each other through the Internet.