The Friendship Recession

From Loneliness to Social Atrophy to Existential Disconnection

Most current discussions on the "friendship recession" focus on symptoms (fewer friends, increased loneliness, reduced spontaneity) or external blockers (remote work, technology, time scarcity). Often under-discussed and overlooked are the internal, psychological, and emotional shifts that lead to not just loneliness, but also dehumanization—the slow erosion of our social muscles, our sense of belonging, and ultimately, our ability to feel known.

Friendship is where we practice being human. We learn empathy, conflict resolution, care, forgiveness, and vulnerability in the company of close friends, without the pressure of sex, blood ties, or performance reviews. When that support system breaks down, we lose companionship, but we also lose a mirror that reflects who we are back to us.

Without friendship, we have no space for the "unpolished self." No one sees you when you're not trying to be anything. And when no one sees you, you start to disappear. Even from yourself.