Teens often feel like they’re missing out when it comes to their social lives. With social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, it is hard not to see what everyone is up to. Kids will see pictures of their friends at a party they weren’t invited to and wish they had gone, even if the party wasn’t as fun as the picture made it seem. Teens tend to think their lives are boring compared to everyone else’s, leading everyone rushing to get the full teenage experience before growing up.
“If my friends have a pool party at their house and I don’t get invited, I’ll see their picture of all of them together and I’ll think ‘Wow, why wasn’t I invited?’ I always just feel like I’m missing out if I don’t get invited,” Junior Hannah Lucas said.
Like Lucas, many other teens deal with seeing their peers brag on the internet about their lives. Senior Melanie Fowler, however, doesn’t feel like she’s missing out on much.
“I don’t feel like I’m missing out, cause I feel like I’m anti-social about it almost. I just don’t want to go out. I don’t want to hang out with people that I don’t know that well,” Fowler said.
Fowler says she has a lot of friends, but doesn’t hang out with a lot of people. She goes in between cliques and floats around them. When she sees a picture of a fun night online, she doesn’t think much of it.
“If it’s a birthday party I’ll be like ‘Aw, I didn’t get any cake!’ But if there’s a party with alcohol I’m glad I’m at home with my pillowpet,” Fowler said.
Lucas believes it is more common amongst girls to feel like they’re missing out than boys.
“Girls like to talk anyway. I feel like they own their friends. If you see like your best friend, and another girl calls them their best friend, then they’re automatically mad. They’re like ‘No, that’s my best friend.’ And then they hang out and the other one wonders why she wasn’t invited. They think ‘Like, if we’re all best friends then why didn’t you invite me?’ But guys are like ‘Dude, whatever,’” Lucas said.
Fowler also has her close friends, and tries not to get caught up in the drama of inclusive friendships.
“I try to get along with everyone, and then I call everyone my best friend, which in all reality they’re not. I couldn’t tell you anything about them, but It’s just easy to go from group to group and just get along with everyone,” Fowler said.