Let’s Be Friends

👉 This is part of My Virtual Soulmate

The digital landscape can both create and close the distance between friends. But you’re never alone on the net!

Evidence A: The Anti-Loneliness Movement

The Sofa Singers started in lockdown and continues to thrive in 2024

Gen Z are the first generation not to remember life before social media, and with that comes a whole host of virtual pals - 59% report to have friends online that they’ve never met IRL. But they’re not the only ones! Online befriending is a huge antidote to the loneliness epidemic of the older generation. Apps like Wyzr Friends have emerged to connect older people with local friends and carpools. The pandemic took many typical activities online - from choirs to pilates classes - opening up to more remote or shy participants - and are still thriving.

Evidence B: Water Cooler E-Chats

With many remote workers reporting the demise of workplace friendships since the move to hybrid models, the importance of genuine work mates is being recognised for the first time. Gallup research shows that having a work best friend is critical to employee engagement and job success - made even more pronounced when you have to deal with the ups and downs of work alone from home. Time to get small-Slacking people!