well it can certainly feel real to the people involved in them. what if two people declare they are in an online relationship, does that mean their relationship doesn't exist? it's a little bit to disrespectful to invalidate something so important to those that consider themselves in a relationship. it's a bit like saying someone isn't a musician if they don't practice or learn in a conventional way. it can work for some people, so hey why not!? I can understand if it's not how you might consider it to be for a relationship, you may have different needs and everyone is different. but people seem to give the impression that they think it's impossible for everyone and I don't believe that. there are people that develop relationships with death row prisoners, they aren't going to be intimate with them. they might see them or speak with them in person but its going to be pretty limited to put it mildly. yet they consider themselves in a relationship with that person.
i've seen people vouch for it and say it was real for them. who am I to say it's not real?