The quintessential clique of BFFs: You've read about them in books (raise your hand if you've wanted to be an honorary member of The Baby-Sitters Club since elementary school), seen them onscreen (thanks, all 236 episodes of Friends) and scrolled past them on social media (your faves on Riverdale are even besties IRL...sigh). But for many girls, a built-in forever friend group just isn't a reality.
Take Maddy G., 15, for example, who hasn't found her flock yet. "I'm friendly with a lot of people at school, but I don't have one group that I do absolutely everything with," she shares. "I'm kinda jealous of the girls who always have a spot at a table."
Claire B., 14, feels similarly: "I feel like I'm supposed to have a main crew. I just haven't met a bunch of people who all click together yet. But I definitely feel the FOMO when I see big friend groups hanging out on Instagram."
Wanting to fit into a social squad is a natural part of being human, shares therapist Mallory Grimste. "We survive through community and connection. Part of that is feeling like you belong within a friend group," she says.
But the truth is that the majority of teens *don't* have big bunches of BFFs. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, only one in five adolescents reported having six or more close friends in their crew. "Most of the teens I have worked with do not have a large group of trusted friends," notes Mary King, a counselor based in Baltimore. "When it comes to people that they can rely on no matter what, they have one, two or three at the most."
Denne historien er fra August/September 2022-utgaven av Girls' Life magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August/September 2022-utgaven av Girls' Life magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Now loading: Meditation mode
Haven't tried it yet? Here's your start-this-second strategy to find your center, no matter the strom.
Spread some cheer (here and there and everywhere)
You know that girl who's always bringing the holiday hype? Oh wait...that's you!
How to eat more vegetables (even if you truly hate them)
GOING DAYS—OR EVEN, YIKES, WEEKS—WITHOUT A SINGLE GREEN? THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.
THIS IS THE YEAR YOU CHANGE THE WORLD
It's exciting to be a part of the generation people say will transform the future.
NEW YEAR'S resolutions officially OUT
What's in, you ask? New Year's intentions, aka the strategy that'll *actually* make all your end-of-December dreams come true.
"Ugh! My family is so...
OK. we're just going to say it: It's valid to sometimes get furiously frustrated and downright disappointed with your nearest and dearest. (Take that as permission to feel *all* your feels rn.) Our gift to you? Breaking down these daunting holiday dynamics so you can get back to being a fa-la-la family again.
Dear Carol
CRUSHING ON A POPULAR BOY There is this boy I've been crushing on.
YOUR 2025 CONFIDENCE GLOW-UP
Sure, you could whisper some mantras, ask your besties to gas you up and listen to \"Bejeweled\" on repeat...or you could try these simple (but srsly effective) hacks for making 2025 your most confident era yet.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Hunter L., 16, is really tired. Not the kind of tired when you stay up scrolling on TikTok, but tired of, well, being a teenager.
READ THIS before you hard launch
You and your crush are one what-are-we convo away from making it official...except for that one thing.
