Benny:
I agree with you that there is a distinction between virtual and non-virtual online friends. Though I must say that I view things a little differently.
Since I spend so many hours online, I have made quite a few close, virtual friends whom I often speak to on a daily basis. So the definition of "real friends" might be changing, at least for me.

This funny FB song touches the most interesting issue about social networks and it is: Are those networks meant for interacting with real-life friends, for making new real friends, for having virtual relationships, or all of the above?
I know that one of the most basic demands that I have from a social network is the ability to differentiate virtual from real friends, as they are two totally different groups in my life regarding the information I share with them, the amount of trust I have in their messages, and many other aspects of a friendship. Unfortunatly FB does not have such an inherent support, but using apps like "Top Friends" can do some of the work.