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It?s not surprising at all. I know I?ve practically grown up online, and those younger than me will have done so from an even younger age. You are also more likely to share more personal thoughts over the internet due to the relative anonymity, which means that you inspire trust in others online and feel closer to them.
There?s also the fact that online communities make you more able to find people with similar outlooks/interests than you would necessarily find offline.