Online Friendships: Advice From Meta AI

It's day 90 of documenting 2025.

Gosh! 🤦🏼
I wasn't aware it was Mother's Day yesterday.
Until I saw the status of several of my contacts.
I don't usually keep up with world celebrations.
Although, I sent a message in that regard to a friend of mine, who's a single mother.

That aside, it's the last day of March!
And the ending of the first quarter of the year!
2025 is passing by pretty quickly.
Just imagine, it's 10 days to day 100.
Time flies, my friend.

Happy Monday, by the way....
It's a new week bringing in a new month, a new quarter.
I hope your plans have been set.
Commit them into God's hands and work towards them.
You will succeed 😌

I'm going to do an AI series today.
Because something happened yesterday.
Two things actually.
First, I got on a call with one of my girlfriends.
We talked, laughed and exchanged ideas....like old friends.
I only met her online last year and I haven't met her in person.
She's into copywriting and website design.
And she's a wonderful soul.

I wish you nothing but the best, Deeyah ❤️
If I had my way, I would take a trip just to see you in person.
Don't worry, it's just a matter of time.
It will definitely happen ✨

Now, the second thing that happened.....
Yesterday was Sunday and I took an evening walk with my neighborhood friend, as usual.
This time, it was a long walk.
We went through the normal route twice and eventually stopped near my house to talk for a while.
Then we walked back to his house and said our goodbyes.

He mainly talked about his relationships with his online friends.
Then asked for advice on some things.
After the walk, I got thinking 🤔
About my own online friendships.

In my opinion, if there's nothing specific that brings you two together, that friendship will flop.
I may sound blunt but here's what I mean:
Most of the online friends I'm in contact with:
☑️ Have something doing, like me.
☑️ They're into some kind of online work, like me.
☑️ We were friends before but reconnected online.
☑️ They were or are undergraduates, which I will soon be.
☑️ We go to the same place everyday or live in the same area.

All of them tick one or two boxes on the list above.
If a contact doesn't tick any of the boxes, we chat very little.
(There are exceptions tho....)
Don't take this as true....I may be wrong in some cases.
I'm simply telling you how it is for me 😁

So, I asked Meta AI a few questions relating to what my friend told me.
In this context, I'm acting as him while asking questions.
I'm going to share our chat, because he will learn from it as well.
After that, I'll end the post with today's highlights.
Sounds good? Great 👍🏼
Let's get into it!

The Chat With Meta AI

Me: I know I'm naive
How do I deal with people who might be trying to take advantage of me?

Meta AI: Dealing with people who might be trying to take advantage of you can be really tough, especially if you're a trusting person.

First of all, it's amazing that you're recognizing your naivety and wanting to protect yourself.
That's already a huge step!

Here's what I'd suggest: trust your instincts. If something feels off or doesn't feel right, trust that feeling and take a step back.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or seek advice from people you trust.

Also, set clear boundaries for yourself. Know what you're comfortable with and what you're not, and communicate those boundaries clearly to others.

Lastly, remember that it's okay to say no. You don't owe anyone anything, and it's better to prioritize your own well-being and safety than to risk getting taken advantage of.

You got this, and you're not alone!

Me : Thank you.
Sometimes, online friends piss me off. I mean, people I met online only and not in person
Do I continue with the friendship?
And what red flags should I look out for?

Meta AI: Online friendships can be tricky, and it's normal to feel frustrated or unsure about how to navigate them.

Firstly, take a step back and assess why you're feeling upset.
Is it something specific they've done, or is it a pattern of behavior that's bothering you?

As for whether to continue the friendship, that's totally up to you. Ask yourself if the positives outweigh the negatives.
Do you feel supported, heard, and valued in the friendship? Or are you constantly feeling drained, frustrated, or disrespected?

Some red flags to watch out for in online friendships include:

- Consistent disrespect or disregard for your boundaries
- Manipulative or guilt-tripping behavior
- Inconsistencies in their story or behavior
- Pressure to share personal or financial information
- Disregard for your feelings or opinions

If you notice any of these red flags, it's probably time to reevaluate the friendship.

Remember, your emotional well-being is important, and you deserve to surround yourself with people who uplift and support you!

Me: I had a traumatic experience that made me more cautious about the friends I keep.
What would be your advice to me?

Meta AI: I'm so sorry to hear that you've gone through a traumatic experience.

That can be really tough to navigate, and it's completely understandable that you're being more cautious about the friends you keep.

My advice would be to prioritize your own healing and safety above all else. Take the time you need to focus on yourself and your own well-being.

Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, and don't be afraid to set boundaries or distance yourself from people who don't respect your needs.

It's also important to remember that you can't control everything, but you can control how you respond to situations and who you choose to let into your life.

Trust your instincts and don't second-guess yourself. If something feels off or doesn't feel right, it's okay to trust that feeling and take a step back.

Lastly, don't forget that healing is a journey, and it's okay to take things one step at a time. Be patient with yourself, and remember that you're not alone.

That's how the chat went.
As an AI prompt enthusiast, I always experiment with AI tools. I must say, Meta AI is pretty good. Not as good as ChatGPT tho....that's my AI love 😘

I'm digressing......

The main point?
Online friendships can transform your life, or make it miserable.
Most times, it depends on how you treat people and what you accept as a person.
For me, it's a blast!
I'm making new friends, building more relationships that will eventually turn into connections.....that will favor me in the future.

My friend, don't disregard the power of the Internet as a tool for building relationships.
Invest in them....with your time.
Know yourself and define the kind of people you want to spend time with.
Let it be people you help or those that help you in some way.
If that's not the case, you're wasting your time.
Duon says so.

That went well, didn't it?
I hope.....(scratch that!)
I'm sure you learned something from this, as well as my friend.
I'm gonna end this post with today's highlights.
From the usual read, the writing companion for this 365 days challenge.
Martin Meadows wrote it ✍🏼

365 Days With Self-discipline
📌 On Quitting In A Smart Way

"Quitting when you’re panicked is dangerous and expensive.
The best quitters are the ones who decide in advance when they’re going to quit.
You can always quit later — so wait until you’re done panicking to decide."
Quote by Seth Godin

"They say that quitters never win, and winners never quit.
However, quitting is sometimes more beneficial than stubbornly sticking to something that’s not working for you.
The key is to quit in a smart way — as the result of a process of logical thinking, not on a whim in the heat of the moment."

"If you’re currently discouraged with a certain goal of yours, make a decision that you won’t quit until you can make a logical, educated decision that will take into account all of the repercussions of doing so.
After carefully considering your options and their logical consequences, if you still want to quit, you’re probably making the right choice."

Word ✨
I can also relate this to online friendships.
Then I'll simply replace the word, "goal" in the last paragraph with "relationship".
Voila!
Something relatable 👌🏼

Wow....this one is definitely longer than yesterday's post.
I don't usually do word count for my posts, cos it ain't necessary.
I'm just living another day in each post.
And I'm grateful for those who choose to join me on this journey.

Thanks for reading, my friend 😊
If you're new here, welcome.
And if you're not, thanks for your time.
You can catch up on the former days I've lived in 2025.
Visit the main site here!
Scroll as much as you like, pick a post and enjoy!

I'm Duon Ada
I'm documenting 2025.
And I'll see you tomorrow
Ciao 💕