Making Friends Is Not the Same as Before.
Why does making friends feel so much harder now ? In a world where connection should be easier than ever, many of us feel lonelier. We scroll through endless friend lists, yet we hesitate to reach out. What’s changed, and why is forming genuine friendships becoming such a struggle ?
For starters, fear plays a bigger role than we’d like to admit. The rise in global terror attacks and violent events has made us wary of strangers. The pandemic only amplified this. Covid forced us into isolation, disrupted our social routines, and left many of us questioning how to trust or rebuild connections. Even now, it feels unnatural to approach someone new, what if they reject us ? What if we’re judged ?
Social media complicates things further. It gives the illusion of connection but often replaces depth with superficiality. A like, a comment, or a quick DM can feel satisfying in the moment, but is it the same as sitting down with a friend for hours, sharing your thoughts and fears ? How often do we feel truly seen and understood by the hundreds of "friends" we accumulate online ?
The reality is, many friendships today lack substance. We talk, but do we really connect ? We hang out, but do we share our vulnerabilities ? And then there’s the endless waiting, for “the One” perfect friend who will understand us completely, who will bring everything we’re missing. But does that person even exist, or is it an ideal we’ve created to avoid opening up to the imperfect people around us ?
Making friends isn’t what it used to be, but does it have to stay this way ? Perhaps it’s time to take small risks, to look beyond appearances, and to invest in relationships with patience and honesty. Because deep down, aren’t we all searching for the same thing, someone who truly sees us for who we are ?