By Vuyile Madwantsi
Social media is woven into almost every aspect of our lives. Whether we're checking updates from friends, responding to work emails, or scrolling through news feeds, our phones and screens are constantly in hand.
While social media offers the convenience of instant connection, it can also become an overwhelming distraction, pulling us away from meaningful face-to-face interactions.
In today’s society, where financial transactions often take centre stage, it’s easy to overlook the true value of friendship. We usually equate wealth with money, stocks and assets, but as Ememitiri Ijeoma Damatie (MEd, ACIPM) shared in a LinkedIn post: “The value of true friendship is immeasurable and often underestimated.”
Friendship, unlike money, cannot be bought or sold, yet it enriches our lives in ways that financial wealth never can. As our lives evolve and responsibilities grow, maintaining friendships can become challenging.
What used to be regular weekend gatherings with family and friends might now only happen on special occasions or once a year during Christmas.
Despite our best intentions, spending quality time with everyone we care about can seem impossible, especially if we no longer share the same social circles. Most adults end up with only a few close friends and see even fewer regularly.
Our relationships, more than anything else, define our wealth and well-being. This Women’s Day, Brutal Fruit Spritzer encourages meaningful connections by putting our phones down, raising our glasses and toasting to friendships that truly make us wealthy.
Researchers at Microsoft studied records of 30 billion electronic conversations among 180 million people in various countries, revealing some fascinating insights. According to Eric Horvitz and Jure Leskovec, "there are about 'seven degrees of separation' among people," - meaning everyone on this planet is separated by only six other people.
This highlights our incredible interconnectedness but also underscores the importance of nurturing the relationships closest to us. It's natural for us to rely more on the support shared within our social networks than on assistance from external sources.
As we navigate our busy lives, the quality of our friendships becomes more significant than the quantity.
Philosophers emphasise, "The biggest return we get in friendship is going from zero to one friend in terms of its impact on our mental health and well-being. If you can get that deep with one person, it’s going to be powerful and impactful, and you don’t need to have a ton of friends.”
"Instead of trying to maintain contact with everyone we've ever met or feeling pressured to make new friends, it's worth considering the value of a few close confidants.”
Research by Robin Dunbar found that out of dozens of connections, people typically have about five close friends. Similarly, a 2020 study found that having three to five close friends is enough to feel fulfilled. Social media can often make friendships feel quantifiable and lead to comparisons.
When friends from college post about their busy social lives, feelings of inadequacy can arise. However, our deepest friendships transcend the online world. The people we spend time with offline and the tangible care and support we give and receive are far more meaningful than any curated version of a relationship seen on social media.
Reconnecting with people in the physical world can have profound benefits for our mental and emotional health.
Here are some actionable ways to get back to human connections and step away from the screen:
- Set phone-free zones:
- Schedule face-to-face time:
- Engage in shared activities:
These experiences offer natural opportunities to connect with others. As we honour the strength and resilience of women everywhere, let's raise a toast to the power of genuine, heartfelt connections. Happy National Women's Day!