The Friendship Recession
The Friendship Recession I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review which stated that the Friendship Recession—a rapid global decline in friendships—is on the rise worldwide. Since 1990, the number of people in the United States who say "I have no close friends" has quadrupled to 12%. Meanwhile, the number of people who have 10 or more close friends has decreased by one-third. A similar situation is being observed in urban areas of India, where the number of acquaintances is increasing, but true friendships are diminishing. Previously, people used to converse with strangers in cafes, clubs, or events. Now, people remain isolated even in a crowd. In the US, the number of people dining alone has increased by 29% in the last two years. Stanford University has even started a course on friendship. This is not just a social issue, but a cultural problem. Making time for friendship is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Loneliness is becoming an addiction. If ...