for me i think its the opposite actually....i think online
friendships can be more safe and rewarding. its easier to get to
know someone without all the pretentions, and if you don't like the
person its also easier to back out provided you haven't met up with
the person yet.
but one thing must bear in mind girls are normally the one who
lose out in most cases... so girls better think before u leap don't
easily jump into a relationship and find out later that the guy is
not suitable for u.
some guys get girlfriends just for sex and some girls get
boyfriends just for money and to show him off. in either case, the
person being made use off loses out. not saying the girl doesn't
suffer, but don't forget about what the guy would go through too
btw, i've heard of at least one case where a girl
got a boyfriend just for sex, and the guy was the one who ended up
being hurt (emotionally) in the end. not too common, but it does
happen.