There's a semantic problem, because we have no other word for it. There's certainly some value to what people deem online friendship, by virtue that they experi

There's a semantic problem, because we have no other word for it. There's certainly some value to what people deem online friendship, by virtue that they experience it, but that does not mean it's a replacement or substitute for in-person friendship and interaction. Even that argument can get a strong reaction sometimes which I suspect is a defense-mechanism.