Friendship in the digital age: our theme for April
If you spend hours on the phone with someone, exchange ten-minute voice messages and discuss personal matters until three in the morning, it's usually your best friend.
My 14-year-old daughter has four best friends. It both touches and fascinates me to see how affectionately the five teenagers treat one another. They wear friendship bracelets, write each other letters full of appreciation and affection, and build themselves a big nest at sleepovers where they all sleep together.
Friendships get us through everyday life. They provide support when things get tough and make happy moments even happier. Studies show just how powerful close relationships can be. They reduce stress, boost self-esteem and make us more resilient.
But how are friendships formed and maintained today – in an age when young people seem to be connected to one another round the clock via Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp? And what is the story behind studies suggesting that almost half of all young people feel lonely? 100 friends on Insta, but no best friends – how can that be? My colleague Kristina Reiss explores these and other questions in her feature «Friendship in the Digital Age».
The term «Erklärbär» comes from colloquial language. It refers to someone who explains things to others. Often in great detail. Always patiently. Always to the point. Philipp Ramming is an «Erklärbär». One of my favourites. The Bernese child and adolescent psychologist once said: «Parenting is failure in instalments. But fail with dignity and elegance.» A comforting statement. How often have I recalled his words when things were once again in complete chaos at home.
Ramming is a popular expert at «Fritz+Fränzi». That's because he describes things in a wonderfully calm and vivid way. «Parenting is the hardest job there is. Because the employer is unpredictable.» For our latest issue, my colleague Birgit Weidt spoke to the father of two grown-up sons about values in parenting. «What matters is how parents behave, not what they say,» says Ramming. I highly recommend the interview.
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely, Nik Niethammer
