--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin…" description: "\"“A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin had found that the number of close friends people report having has reduced from three to two. While we might ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_close-friends_a-study-by-sociologist-lynn-smith-lovin_909433.jpg" --- # A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin had found that the… ![“A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin had found that the number of close friends people report having has reduced from three to two. While we might have hundreds of Facebook friends, our true, close friends are decreasing. Perhaps most concerning of all, one in ten people said they had no close…” quote by Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_close-friends_a-study-by-sociologist-lynn-smith-lovin_909433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_close-friends_a-study-by-sociologist-lynn-smith-lovin_909433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_close-friends_a-study-by-sociologist-lynn-smith-lovin_909433.jpg) > ““A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin had found that the number of close friends people report having has reduced from three to two. While we might have hundreds of Facebook friends, our true, close friends are decreasing. Perhaps most concerning of all, one in ten people said they had no close friendships at all.”” [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern social media expands acquaintances but true close friendships are declining, risking loneliness. **In simple terms:** Close friendships are decreasing despite many online contacts. Key Takeaway Invest in deep, real‑world relationships. Themes friendship loneliness social media Mood thoughtful concerned Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - urban life - digital age - elderly care - college campuses Key Concepts sociology mental health Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to strengthen existing friendships? - How does technology affect your sense of belonging? A Different Perspective Online connections cannot replace the depth of face‑to‑face bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friend/) [Close friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friends/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [Over the years, I have created close friendships with many successful men, many of whom I have made a lot of money for through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-roth/over-the-years-i-have-created-close-friendships-with-many-successful/) [Carol Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-roth/) > [Friends serve central functions for children that parents do not, and they play a critical role in shaping children's social skills and their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zick-rubin/friends-serve-central-functions-for-children-that-parents-do-not-and/) [Zick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zick-rubin/) > [Close friendships are one of life's miracles - that a few people get to know you deeply, all your messy or shadowy stuff along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/close-friendships-are-one-of-life-s-miracles-that-a-few-people-get-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Doubtless a good general rule for close friendships, where confidences are freely exchanged, is that what one is not informed about, one may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/doubtless-a-good-general-rule-for-close-friendships-where-confidences/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [Without being able to fully understand different situations we often come to points in our lives in which we feel confused about a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-being-able-to-fully-understand-different-situations-we-often/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of the choicest blessings of my life have been the close friendships I have experienced over the years. Often, these friendships have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/some-of-the-choicest-blessings-of-my-life-have-been-the-close/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [I enjoyed being involved in team sports and making close friendships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcbride/i-enjoyed-being-involved-in-team-sports-and-making-close-friendships/) [Brian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcbride/) > [All of my close friends have been in my life for years. My best friends are all people I met in grade school, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/all-of-my-close-friends-have-been-in-my-life-for-years-my-best/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) > [What matters is working with a few close friends, people you respect, knowing that if times did turn bad these people would hold together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/what-matters-is-working-with-a-few-close-friends-people-you-respect/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Many of the crew members I work with and continue to work with were friends or have become close friends, and so we keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/many-of-the-crew-members-i-work-with-and-continue-to-work-with-were/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [In football, I don't have a lot of friends. The people who I really trust, there are not many... Most of the time, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/in-football-i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-friends-the-people-who-i-really/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [“Throughout our lives, no one could figure out how we were so close, but when friendships begin with cupcakes—chocolate, at that—no truer bond develops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/throughout-our-lives-no-one-could-figure-out-how-we-were-so-close-but/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“All close friendships are marked with competition. Our earliest tests are against our siblings and playmates, and some of that rivalry endures amongst friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/all-close-friendships-are-marked-with-competition-our-earliest-tests/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [I missed him, of course, but sometimes close friendships have a tidal beat that pulls you towards different shores though the ocean that connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-missed-him-of-course-but-sometimes-close-friendships-have-a-tidal/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-who-have-at-least-three-or-four-very-close-friendships-are/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More by Dalai Lama XIV > [This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/this-is-my-simple-religion-no-need-for-temples-no-need-for/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Transforming the mind involves first learning to know it, then identifying how it functions so as to eliminate the three main mental poisons, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/transforming-the-mind-involves-first-learning-to-know-it-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“our ability to reframe our situation more positively”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/our-ability-to-reframe-our-situation-more-positively/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“The fourth and final circuit is “our ability to be generous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/the-fourth-and-final-circuit-is-our-ability-to-be-generous/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“In general, if we carefully examine any given situation in a very unbiased and honest way, we will realize that to a large extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/in-general-if-we-carefully-examine-any-given-situation-in-a-very/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“No matter what activity or practice we are pursuing, there isn't anything that isn't made easier through constant familiarity and training. Through training, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/no-matter-what-activity-or-practice-we-are-pursuing-there-isn-t/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Live so when your children think of fairness and integrity they think of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/live-so-when-your-children-think-of-fairness-and-integrity-they-think/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is important to consider others at least as important as ourselves. This is the essence of spirituality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-important-to-consider-others-at-least-as-important-as-ourselves/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“I maintain that Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism all hold up love as an ideal, seek to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/i-maintain-that-buddhism-christianity-confucianism-hinduism-islam/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Marriages, even the best ones—perhaps especially the best ones—are an ongoing process of spoken and unspoken forgiveness. •”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/marriages-even-the-best-ones-perhaps-especially-the-best-ones-are-an/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“You see, if there are no difficulties and you are always relaxed, then you complain more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/you-see-if-there-are-no-difficulties-and-you-are-always-relaxed-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-not-happiness-that-makes-us-grateful-it-is-gratefulness-that/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Joy can span from the pleasure of others’ good fortune, what Buddhists call mudita, to the pleasure in others’ misfortune, what the Germans call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/joy-can-span-from-the-pleasure-of-others-good-fortune-what-buddhists/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/if-you-think-only-of-yourself-if-you-forget-the-rights-and-well-being/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It seems that scientific research reaches deeper and deeper. But it also seems that more and more people, at least scientists, are beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-seems-that-scientific-research-reaches-deeper-and-deeper-but-it/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) [Explore all 206 Dalai Lama XIV quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## More Close friends quotes > [I don't have alot of people to talk to. Not alot of people are worth my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-don-t-have-alot-of-people-to-talk-to-not-alot-of-people-are-worth/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Drifting away from close friends, is one of the shittiest feelings ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rona-mae-batas/drifting-away-from-close-friends-is-one-of-the-shittiest-feelings-ever/) Rona Mae Batas > [“An English comedian once explained the popularity of umlauts among native English speakers as follows: "It's almost as if they had two eyes. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bergmann/an-english-comedian-once-explained-the-popularity-of-umlauts-among/) David Bergmann > [Being close to my friends. I like to spend time alone as well, but the best time is with friends around when you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chace-crawford/being-close-to-my-friends-i-like-to-spend-time-alone-as-well-but-the/) [Chace Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chace-crawford/) > [We were close friends. something got between us and you gave up. I know you think I hate you , but I dont ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-were-close-friends-something-got-between-us-and-you-gave-up-i-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. Perhaps there was a perfect moment in between, when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/but-by-the-time-those-acquaintances-became-close-friends-it-was-too/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [Over the years, I have created close friendships with many successful men, many of whom I have made a lot of money for through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-roth/over-the-years-i-have-created-close-friendships-with-many-successful/) [Carol Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-roth/) > [Alex,do you remember this time?the time when we were best budds used to talk all the time about snything and everything?i miss those times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/alex-do-you-remember-this-time-the-time-when-we-were-best-budds-used/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I didn't see conflict during the Vietnam War, but I did lose close friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/i-didn-t-see-conflict-during-the-vietnam-war-but-i-did-lose-close/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [You will look back on the times you laughed and you will cry. You will look back on the times you cried, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetangelunknown/you-will-look-back-on-the-times-you-laughed-and-you-will-cry-you-will/) Sweetangelunknown > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Girls Go Wild' was born out of a Joshua Tree excursion with some close friends after coming home from a long bit of touring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/girls-go-wild-was-born-out-of-a-joshua-tree-excursion-with-some-close/) LP > [“Someone once asked Gandhi for a sermon, and his reply was, “My life is my sermon.” In the same way, we see how Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-l-corey/someone-once-asked-gandhi-for-a-sermon-and-his-reply-was-my-life-is/) [Benjamin L. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-l-corey/) > [When I look back on my life, it seems nearly everything of interest happened in little more than one decade - dramas, tragedies, major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-radziwill/when-i-look-back-on-my-life-it-seems-nearly-everything-of-interest/) [Lee Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-radziwill/) > [Many of the crew members I work with and continue to work with were friends or have become close friends, and so we keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/many-of-the-crew-members-i-work-with-and-continue-to-work-with-were/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) [Browse all 597 Close friends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A study by sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin had found that the number of close friends people report having has reduced from three to two. 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