Do you know the theory of the 7 friends? It is one of the latest viral trends on social media. Seemingly harmless, it has far more mental health risks than you might imagine.
In today’s interconnected world, where social networks and technology allow us to maintain contact with hundreds, even thousands of people, it is intriguing to reflect on the limits of social relationships.
This is where it comes into play “the theory of the 7 friends”, an idea that sheds light on the cognitive ability of humans to maintain close and stable connections. This theory has become especially relevant in the age of social media.where it is common to have “friends” on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Although these online connections can bring a sense of comfort, the 7 friends theory suggests that there are seven specific types of friends you need in your life. This include the following:
- The friend you’ve had since your childhood
- The friend who makes you laugh at all times
- The friend you don’t talk to for a long time, but nothing changes
- The friend you can tell anything or secret to
- The friend you feel like a brother
- The friend you can’t imagine not being in your life
- The friend with whom you share all your problems
What if you don’t have these exact seven types of friends in your life?
At first glance, this trend seems to be nice, but it is important to question the basis on which this theory stands. It is worth mentioning that there is no research backed by scientific evidence that demonstrates the validity of this theory.since it is actually a made-up idea with no solid foundation in the psychology of friendship.
By assigning a specific number to the number of friends we need, the question arises as to whether this figure serves any legitimate purpose or is simply arbitrary. What happens if you don’t have the seven friends that the theory says? Are you missing something essential? Are your friends less valuable if they don’t fit into these predefined categories?
In this way it becomes a quite dangerous viral challenge to carry out, since numbering friendships, as indicated in the theory, can lead to unnecessary anxiety and feelings of exclusion. You should keep in mind that each friendship is unique and fills different roles in your life.
By trying to classify your friendships in rigid behaviors, you run the risk of limiting and reducing the richness, as well as the complexity of human relationships.
Friendship is multifaceted and should not be pigeonholed into a number or a category for anything in the world. The young people who carry out this challenge, who are the main participants and recipients of this trend, which has begun to go viral on TikTok, may feel bad if they do not have seven close friends.
It is important that you do not let these challenges affect your perception of yourself or the people you love.. Some relationships grow stronger in certain seasons of life, while others weaken or disappear.
These changes are normal and part of personal growth, so you must understand that not all friendships have to be forever or meet certain criteria to have significant value.
The trend of The 7 friends theory may seem adorable and attractive on social media, but in reality, it is more damaging than anything else. when it comes to valuing or quantifying friendship and relationships with other people.
It is essential to learn to value and appreciate the friendships you have in the present, without counting or overanalyzingand above all, without allowing viral challenges to influence your relationships with others.