That's one way to look at it. Another is that, perhaps, Facebook's redefinition of the term "friend" has taken some of the meaning out of it. This leaves us i

That's one way to look at it. Another is that, perhaps, Facebook's redefinition of the term "friend" has taken some of the meaning out of it. This leaves us in an emotionally precarious position: I've called someone a friend, and perhaps even interacted with them more than I would've otherwise, thanks to this online facilitation. Does that make it more or less important? Does the difference matter? I don't think these are trivial questions. My opinion is that, no, someone you talk to infrequently on Facebook is not your "friend" in the same way as someone you see and interact with regularly outside of the webbynets. But I do think that point of view, if it isn't already, will soon be outdated. For better or worse, our online interactions are more numerous and significant. Perhaps it's time we consider that possibility and start re-evaluating our assumptions regarding friendship, what it entails, and what it requires.