I know this is one of those things people have opinions about. "Online friends aren't real friends." "You need human connection." Whatever. I'm going to push back on that a bit.
Text just works better for me
I'm selectively mute. In the right conditions I can talk fine; in the wrong ones I can't. Online, that's never a problem. I can always communicate. I can take a second to think before I respond. I don't have to manage eye contact, tone of voice, or any of the other things that make in-person socialising exhausting. It's just… easier. And easier means I can actually show up properly, instead of spending all my energy on the mechanics of the conversation.
You find people who actually get it
In person you're mostly limited to whoever happens to be geographically near you. Online you can find people who are into the same niche stuff, who think similarly, who actually get what you're talking about when you go on about Rust or Pterodactyl or whatever. The conversations are just better when you're talking to people who share your interests.
It's still real
The "it's not real friendship if it's online" thing is just not true. The people I talk to online — I know them, they know me, we've been through stuff together. The medium being text doesn't make it less real, it just makes it different. And for me it makes it more accessible.
Not saying IRL doesn't matter
I've got three friends I talk to in person. They matter a lot. I'm not saying ditch everyone in your life and only exist online. I'm just saying that the idea that online friendships are somehow lesser is wrong — and for some people, especially people like me, they're actually the primary way of connecting with the world. And that's completely valid.