I was obsessed with collecting friends – but it left me feeling empty

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Additionally, the illusion of closeness created by social media can trick us into believing we have more meaningful connections than we actually do.” Psychotherapist Mark Vahrmeyer also feels that social media is somewhat to blame for the “incremental shift” towards the idea that having more friends equals more happiness. “Combine this immaturity with an ever-increasing consumer economy where success is flaunted on social media through the amassing of desirable products as the evidence of wealth status and it’s not a stretch to see how more friends has come to equal more success.” I probe further. “If having more friends is driven by a fear of missing out, and/or a need to be successful by having more friends, then invariably we will expend energy on these ‘friendships’ without real connection. The illusion of closeness created by social media can trick us into believing we have more meaningful connections than we actually do Railey Molinario, relationship intelligence expert And if you’re reading this thinking, “But, I don’t have five friends” – psychotherapist, author and founder of The Purpose Workshop, Eloise Skinner, urges you not to stress: “It’s really an individual journey to see what works for you.