What make an online connection feel real?

I've had thousands of impressions on posts where nobody actually cared to engage. Then there are quiet DMs or small threads where you end up talking for hours.

someone shares a struggle and someone else actually relates. Someone gives advice without expecting anything in return. Nobody is trying to pitch you their service in the second message.

Those interactions are rare. And you can't force them either. Once networking starts feeling like a checklist, people notice.