Keller @ Large: Why Real Friends Are Better Than Online Friends

BOSTON (CBS) - A new survey about friendships has an interesting conclusion about the impact the internet can have on them.

They found that friends can, in general, accept differences of political opinion if they are so-called "true friends." What is a "true friend"?

Apparently, it's not the same as an online friend. While fewer than ten-percent of poll respondents considered having the same political views a key part of "real life" friendships, over 30 percent said they had de-friended someone online simply because of a contrary political opinion their "friend" had posted.

What does this tell us?

First, that online relationships are a weak substitute for the real thing. You can't defuse a political difference online with a wink, a smile or a shrug the way you can in person, and don't tell me about emojis.

People often blow white-hot online in a way they never would face-to-face. It happens often in this business. A livid email denounces you as the spawn of Satan, you respond politely, then in the second email they admit they really do like you.

Talk about things that make you go: "Huh?"

This survey also reminds us that real friendship is much more than just an online connection. Real friends know you, have some shared experiences with you, and usually share your values on some level.

Most Facebook "friends" don't meet any of those criteria.

I'll be spending some quality time with old friends on my next vacation. But we won't be talking much politics.

And if we do, any differences we have will never matter.

Listen to Jon's commentary: