We live in an era where internet safety is widely preached and kids are told not to talk to strangers online. It’s a reasonable request – after all, there are some people out there who don’t always have the best intentions.
The internet can be dangerous, but it can also be a place to learn, grow and blossom extraordinary friendships. I probably used the internet way before I should have; however, I don’t regret it. Some of my most incredible experiences wouldn’t have been possible without online friendships.
In September 2020, I met an internet friend in person for the first time. It was a bit scary, but we had been FaceTiming for years and we lived only an hour apart. It felt like it was time to meet up finally.
It was a bit awkward at first — honestly, meeting someone in person for the first time always is. We met at a park about halfway between us and, despite being 15 at the time, played on the playground. It was fun, and eventually, we warmed up to each other and it wasn’t awkward anymore.
It’s always funny when people ask how we met — it isn’t the most conventional way for friends to meet. Our answer? We met online. More specifically, we met through a shared love of the “Scream” franchise. We get some looks, but hey, it makes for a great conversation starter.
Now, we make plans to spend time together every time I’m home for breaks. When I’m at college and four hours away, we continue to FaceTime, play video games and text almost every day. It’s funny how someone I met on Instagram has become such an important part of my life.
This past summer, I flew by myself for the first time, across the country, to meet someone from X (formerly Twitter) who my parents didn’t know at all. My friend lives in California, a state I had never been to, and when I brought up flying to see her to my parents I expected their answer to be an immediate no. However, that wasn’t the case. They said yes and even helped me find plane tickets for the trip.
I went in July and, despite being unbelievably nervous about traveling to a new state by myself, had the time of my life. We visited destinations such as San Francisco and Monterey, since I’m a huge fan of the HBO series “Big Little Lies.” We even went to a San Francisco Giants game and explored the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
This experience changed my life and made me realize that I could travel without my parents and see the world for myself. Before this trip, I didn’t know what I was capable of. If it weren’t for me stumbling upon this girl on X a few years ago who also loved “Saturday Night Live,” I would never have had these experiences or opportunities. It’s weird how things like that work, isn’t it?
In November, the same friend flew out to see me in Oxford. We made the trip to Indianapolis together in a failed attempt to see “The Eras Tour” (we both love Taylor Swift). While we weren’t able to get into the concert that night, we got to explore the city, trade friendship bracelets with other Swift fans and even meet new friends (who we actually got dinner with that night, after both parties failed to secure tickets). We also met up with another “Saturday Night Live” fan who we knew from X.
The trip didn’t exactly go as planned, but it was still an absolute blast, and I will forever treasure the memories made in Indianapolis that weekend.
Prior to that trip, my friend had never stepped foot in the Midwest. It was her first time in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, all three of which were visited that weekend in some capacity. If it weren’t for our meeting on the internet, she may never have had those opportunities.
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The internet is terrifying, but it can also be beautiful, and online friendships are one of the most misunderstood concepts out there. Not everyone is scary, and meeting people online can open you up to a whole new world of opportunities you didn’t even know were possible.
That being said, the internet can be dangerous, and I definitely do not advise flying across the country alone to meet a stranger unless you look into it and know for a fact that you will be safe doing so. It’s a risk, but when you know it’s safe, it’s so unbelievably worth it.
If it weren’t for some of the friendships I made by posting about my silly interests online, I wouldn’t have had many of the different opportunities in my life, and I definitely would not be the person I am today. The internet can be a scary place, but befriending people online opens up a whole world of possibilities you wouldn’t know were possible otherwise.
Stella Powers is a sophomore from Wooster, Ohio majoring in journalism and media and communication with a minor in film studies. Powers is the assistant culture editor and assistant campus & community editor for The Miami Student, and is one of the managing editors for The Miami Student Magazine.
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