Friendship Educator Offers Tips for Adults Struggling to Make New Friends

What's Happening?

A Midwest-based friendship educator, known as Mary, is providing guidance on how adults can successfully make new friends. Through her TikTok account @better.social.skills, Mary shares practical advice drawn from her background in interpersonal communication and personal experiences of relocating and starting anew in different cities. Her tips focus on overcoming the challenges faced by adults, particularly those who grew up with social media, in offline social interactions. Mary emphasizes the importance of joining regular activities, practicing openness, using friend-making apps, and managing expectations to build and maintain friendships.

Why It's Important?

The significance of Mary's work is underscored by a September 2024 Pew Research Center survey, which found that 16% of U.S. adults feel lonely or isolated most of the time, with younger adults under 50 experiencing loneliness more frequently than older adults. This highlights a growing need for effective strategies to foster social connections. Mary's approach not only addresses the emotional well-being of individuals but also promotes a culture of friendship, which is crucial in combating loneliness and isolation. Her initiatives, including developing wearable conversation starters, aim to encourage openness and authenticity in social interactions.

What's Next?

Mary is expanding her efforts beyond social media and eBooks by developing a line of shirts and hats designed to signal openness to making friends. These items serve as conversation starters, encouraging individuals to engage with others and build connections. As her message gains traction, it is likely to inspire more adults to take proactive steps in forming friendships, potentially leading to a broader cultural shift towards valuing and prioritizing social relationships.

Beyond the Headlines

Mary's work touches on deeper societal issues, such as the impact of technology on interpersonal skills and the importance of vulnerability in forming genuine connections. By advocating for deliberate and patient friendship-building, she challenges the notion that friendships should happen effortlessly, promoting a more intentional approach to social interactions.