Why we suck at making friends (and 3 ways to improve) | Sheridan Voysey | TEDxSt Albans

Social Impact & Well-being - Highlights the prevalence of loneliness, stating that one in five people lack close friends and one in four experience regular loneliness [2] - Emphasizes the detrimental effects of loneliness on emotional and physical health, including increased anxiety, depression, weakened heart, and shortened lifespan [2] - Underscores the positive impact of friendship, noting that close friends contribute to increased happiness, health, and longevity [2] Barriers to Friendship - Identifies mobility as a barrier, with many adults living in different cities from where they were born [2] - Points out busyness as a significant obstacle, requiring approximately 50 hours of meaningful contact to develop a casual friendship [2] - Notes cultural neglect of friendship in favor of romantic relationships, evidenced by the lack of songs and resources dedicated to friendship compared to love [2] Qualities of Friendship - Defines a friend as someone you can talk to, depend on, grow with, and enjoy [3][4][5] - Stresses the importance of mutuality in friendship, involving a balance of giving and taking, seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard, knowing and being known [11][12] Call to Action - Advocates for treating friendship as a vocation, emphasizing its importance comparable to other significant roles in life [7] - Encourages prioritizing friends over screens, suggesting that the average person spends 5 hours a day watching streaming video, indicating a need to re-evaluate priorities [9] - Promotes embracing the risk of mutuality in friendships, highlighting that true friendship involves mutual vulnerability and sacrifice [10][11][12]