1 week ago

Why Young People Feel Too Connected to Connect

Young people can know what many people are doing but still feel lonely.

Seeing updates and sending messages is not always the same as feeling close to someone.

People may show only their best or safest sides in public and online.

This can make it harder to be honest and feel accepted.

Strong friendships grow when people regularly spend time together and keep showing up.

They also grow when friends share imperfect feelings and respond kindly.

Shasta Nelson calls the important ingredients positivity, consistency, and vulnerability.

The main idea is that good friendships are practiced through attention, trust, and being willing to be truly known.

Key facts

Central paradox: People may be highly connected yet feel they lack genuine closeness and support.
Three friendship ingredients: Shasta Nelson identifies positivity, consistency, and vulnerability.
Positivity: Interactions that make people feel accepted, valued, understood, encouraged, and welcomed.
Consistency: Regular contact and repeated encounters help build trust over time.
Vulnerability: Allowing others to see imperfect, uncertain, or unfinished parts of oneself.
Deep friendship: It involves reciprocity, emotional risk, continuity, shared vulnerability, and trust.
Author: Sam Carr, Reader in Education with Psychology and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.

scroll.in · 1 week ago