Actually Asten

Because not everyone finds their people at school gates or in local cafés — and that’s okay.

I used to wonder if online friendships were “less real” than in-person ones. I think we all internalise that idea at some point — that unless you’ve sat next to someone or hugged them or popped round for tea, it’s not valid. But here’s the truth:

Online friends have saved me.

Growing up autistic, I often felt out of sync. In real life, I struggled with small talk, got overwhelmed easily, and didn’t know how to “do friendship” in the way other girls seemed to. And when I finally did meet another autistic person offline, it… didn’t go well. (More on that some other time. The short version? They told my parents I was in love with Basil Brush. 🙃)

Online, though? I found people who understood me. People who didn’t bat an eyelid at my hyperfixations. People who replied, “SAME,” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” when I said I got goosebumps from an old Disney Channel bop. People who could handle long silences and walls of text. Neurodivergent women, fellow writers, fandom folks. My kind of people.

Just because we don’t hang out in person doesn’t make those friendships any less meaningful. The support is real. The laughter is real. The sense of being seen is real.

Sometimes, online friends are the first ones to notice when something’s off. They’re the ones cheering your wins, sending memes when you’re low, and reminding you that you matter — even on days when you don’t believe it yourself.

Daisy’s Corner 🎙️

“My online friends are the reason I didn’t set fire to everything during lockdown. They’ve seen me at my weirdest and still invite me to group chats. Legends.” – Daisy Carter

If you’re someone who has found comfort and community online, know this: it counts. You count. And there is nothing “less than” about finding connection in the digital world — especially when the real world hasn’t always been kind.

Here’s to all the friends we haven’t met in person — but who feel like home anyway. 🧡