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We should be careful when making online friends

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Introduction
People used to meet and make friends in person. However, thanks to the Internet, people can now meet each other online. People can make friends through online games, websites, and chats. But, are these online friends true friends? Let’s see what Henry and Ashley have to say.

Constructive
Debater 1 Henry

Online friends are not real friends. How can you be friends with someone that you have never met in person? True friendship requires seeing each other and spending time together. A person can pretend to be anyone that they want on the Internet. It is much easier to lie about your identity online. For example, online friends can say that they are 15 years old, but actually be much older or younger.

Debater 2 Ashley
Online friends are real friends. I agree with you that true friendship requires spending time together. However, online friends can chat, play games, and even webcam with each other. These are ways that online friends can spend time together. True friends do not need to be with each other all the time. True friends simply care about and support each other. That is why online friends can surely be real friends.

Rebuttal
Debater 1 Henry

Spending time with someone online is not the same as spending time with someone in person. Also, online friends are very limited in what they can do together. True friends are able to do different activities, such as go to the park, watch a movie, or eat ice cream together. However, online friends can just do a couple activities together on the computer. It is better to make friends in person.

Debater 2 Ashley
It is important to be careful when meeting people online. However, that does not mean that all online friends are untrustworthy. It is still possible to make great friendships online. I keep in contact with friends who live far away from me through the Internet. We are still good friends even though we can only talk online now. This proves that friendship does not require seeing each other and spending time together.

Judge’s Comments
Today’s winner is Henry because Ashley gave a bad example. Ashley said that she has good friends who live far away because she can talk to them via the Internet. However, her friends are not online friends because she did not meet them online. Therefore, her example is not relevant to the topic.
Karen Lee
For The Junior Times
(ttt@timescore.co.kr)