they can be but ........

i dont know about what's going on in women's head.

but 99 percent of men involved in such friendships are mostly looking for relations prohibited in Islam. ( amorous and to some extent "timepass" ) . love before marriage is scarce in men's dictionary.
thats what the majority of people avow.( )

very often they start with friendship but the attraction towards opposite gender is for sure whether you admit or not .

on internet i think this factor is suppressed . until unless exchange of cell # is avoided.