Tell me about your friend-life

How often do you feel genuinely connected to your close friends?

Not just in contact, but genuinely connected

When you do catch up with close friends, what does it usually look like?

A quick text or meme

A scheduled call or video chat

In-person when we can get our calendars to align

Sporadic and unpredictable - no real pattern

Mostly liking each other's posts/stories and calling it connection

What's the biggest thing that gets in your way of having deeper connections with your friends?

Time - everyone's just too busy

Distance or different time zones

Different life stages

Social media gives the illusion of connection without the real thing

I never know what to say beyond 'how have you been?'

I feel like I'm always the one who has to initiate

How much do you agree with the statement that sometimes it's hard to know what to say/ask beyond "how have you been?"

Think of a close friend you've drifted from. What happened?

Life just got busy and we stopped making the effort

We moved or entered different life stages and lost common ground

We lost our common interest

We never had a falling out - we just slowly stopped being in touch

I kept meaning to reach out but never did

I don't really have friendships that have drifted

Which of these do you wish you did more of with your close friends?

Shared more laughs and silly stuff

Had deeper conversations

Shared more of our day to day

Made plans and actually followed through

Shared things we're reading, watching, thinking about

Just talked more regularly, even briefly

Does this sound familiar - you finally catch up with a friend, spend the whole time doing a life debrief, run out of time, and leave feeling like you didn't actually connect?

Yes, this is basically every catch-up I have

Sometimes - depends on the friend

Occasionally, but we usually get past the updates

No, my catch-ups usually feel genuinely connecting

How easy is it to make new friends?

What stops you from putting yourself out there to meet new people or join new communities?

Honestly, I'm not sure I'm looking for new friends right now

I don't know where to start or how to find my people

It feels awkward or forced as an adult

I don't have the time or energy

Most options cost too much (memberships, clubs, events)

I worry about rejection or not fitting in

Would you use an app that helped you stay genuinely connected to your close friends - through weekly prompts, voice notes, and shared moments?

100%

Yes but it depends on the app

Got you thinking and want to tell me something?

And finally, how many years experience on earth do you have?

Under 25