Afraid of losing friends?

You might be 'friend hoarding'

- Aanchal Chaudhary

Have you ever found yourself wanting to keep a friend all to yourself? While you might think it's harmless to keep your friend within your circle, you could be engaging in 'friend hoarding'.

Friend hoarding refers to the behavior of holding friends to oneself or hesitating to introduce them to others, often out of fear of losing them or feeling left out.

While maintaining friendships is important for emotional well-being, this behavior can stem from insecurities and may lead to unhealthy relationships.

Katherine Stovel, professor and chair of sociology at the University of Washington, explained, "Much of what can make linking friends scary—insecurities, envy, an instinct to hold tight to the people you love—isn't new; it's fundamentally human. But keeping your friends to yourself, what I call 'friend hoarding,' is a modern practice."

The causes

Here are four causes might have led to friend hoarding.