Can you play grand theft auto online without completing the story mode?

According to the Wikipedia excerpt, Grand Theft Auto Online is the online multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto V, released as a standalone expansion. The evidence details its release platforms, gameplay features, and open-world environment but does not mention any prerequisites such as completing the story mode. In practice, GTA Online is accessible through the main GTA V game menu, and players typically do not need to finish the single-player campaign to access it. However, since this requirement is not addressed in the provided evidence, no definitive conclusion can be drawn from the given information alone. The evidence confirms GTA Online's standalone nature but does not clarify its dependency on the story mode.