Teens are struggling to maintain friendships and relationships during the pandemic. Pre-COVID, students spent most of their days hanging out with friends or significant others during lunch, parties, school dances, and casual daily interactions in between classes, but the outbreak has “dissolved those rituals.” For some friend circles, making decisions on how to safely spend time with each other often ends in argument. Experts warn that lockdowns and isolation could have “long-term effects” on the way young people socialize, as they miss out on the time they would usually be learning social skills. YPulse’s State of Mind trend report found that 44% of 13-39-year-olds feel their relationships with friends and family have been negatively impacted by COVID. (The Washington Post)
