If someone were to ask how I know this “friend,” I can’t say from church or he’s a family member, etc. I guess I would simply say “just on the internet.” Perhaps another category needs to be added to include e-friends simply defined as I know him on the internet. New friend category: electronic.

There are those I clicked the “fan” or “like” or “follow” or “subscribe” buttons. Because I read what they share I find myself thinking I know them personally. It’s easy to forget that I only know what they choose to share.

There are online friends with whom I actually have communicated to the extent that I feel like we are getting to know each other. They are at least “casual friends” on the Goddard scale. Some are important enough to me that I might even consider them “close friends” or approaching that category.

In our modern world of online interaction, I think there could be at least one more category of Professional Friendships. I have added a circle of people to my professional world (education)who have become very important to me. We share information and assist each other on a daily basis, yet we only know a limited amount of personal information about each other. If I need a suggestion for a resource or help with a particular problem, I can present it to these people and have immediate feedback. We refer to each other as our Personal Learning Network (PLN). My PLN includes people from all over the world. These “friends” have changed my professional life. In most cases, I know little or nothing about their personal values or religious/political views. I have on a few occasions unfollowed or blocked communication from someone whose statements I found offensive, but that doesn’t happen often. We have only our interest in education in common. Even though we don’t socialize or interact in a personal way, they definitely should fit into some category. I don’t want to do without them!

However, with online communication I always remind myself that if I knew these people face-to-face, my opinion of them might change. I share a very limited amount of personal information with any person online. I’m somewhat of a skeptic because there are so many great pretenders out there and no way to identify who they are. Even though that is true at times even with face-to-face friends, it’s usually easier to verify information that is shared than with cyber-friends. It’s often difficult for me to balance my caution with my enjoyment of the expanded world that online acquaintances provide.

In my life, I am blessed to have many close friends, but only a handful who I feel know me on an intimate level. Those are treasured friendships that in a few cases, are as important to me as my precious family. As far as Intimate Friendships, I don’t believe that could ever happen for me online. It takes me a long time to develop the level of trust and caring required for those special relationships.

Online communication with others is becoming increasingly important in our world. I believe it is important for us to continually evaluate the role of these new relationships in our lives. It is critical to keep social networking in perspective with the other priorities in our lives. I have recently seen situations where people become so obsessed with their online activities that they have placed their families and careers in jeopardy. People are learning how to plug in to a whole new world, but I believe it is equally important to know when to unplug.