In reality, real friends are hard to come by compared to internet friends. Though that doesn't mean I dont have any REAL friends.
I've managed to make some friends that became close to me, others are just there and gone the next. My circle of friends are small, but that's how I enjoy it. Having too much friends isn't right for me.
As for friends I make on the internet, it's much more easier to make a good first impression and make bonds that aren't seen possible with real life ones. When I was young I didn't know how to make friends at all, so I left the real world and went on the internet, into forums. It helped me a lot with social skills and learn about different types of conversations.
Now, I'm not as active online as I was a few years back but without the people I've befriended online, I wouldn't have the confidence to make friends in real life