What are fake friends?
Fake friends, in human relationships, are like illusions that appear genuine but hide their true intentions. Fake-friends are people who pretend to be your friends but don’t genuinely care about your well-being or have your best interests at heart. They might not be sincere, only looking for opportunities, or only interested in maintaining the appearance of friendship for personal gain. They may be friendly when it suits them but disappear when things get tough. Genuine friendships are built on trust, mutual support, and shared experiences that withstand the tests of time and adversity.
11 True Signs of Fake Friends:
1-They belittle you:
Real friends are those who uplift you and support you. They refrain from disrespecting or belittling you. Instead, they offer helpful advice and suggestions with the genuine intention of seeing you succeed.
On the contrary, fake friends display indifference towards your emotions. The more you lend an ear to them, the more your sense of empowerment dwindles. These individuals need to recognize your aspirations, dreams, and unique abilities.
2-Not putting in enough effort:
They display a lack of consideration for the bonds of friendship by consistently failing to invest any substantial amount of time and energy, frequently opting to cancel scheduled engagements, and consistently placing the needs and desires of others above their own.
3-They hold grudges:
We all make mistakes, and it is important to acknowledge and learn from them. When it comes to the impact of our mistakes on relationships, it depends on the type of people these relationships are. A true friend will forgive you and move on because they love you despite the hurt caused by your mistake. On the other hand, a fake friend might not be able to forgive you or forget quickly and might hold grudges despite your apologies.
4-They break your trust:
Fake friends may disregard your trust by sharing your secrets with others, even after explicitly asking them not to. They may engage in conversations behind your back, ultimately breaking the trust you have placed in them.
5-They take advantage of you:
Sometimes it might feel as if one is merely a tool for their friends. For instance, they might exploit someone to obtain a girl’s contact information, encourage them to shop together as a means to stand in line on their behalf, or even invite them on a road trip purely to split the gas expenses. Fake-friends tend to take advantage of others since they don’t fear losing the friendship. Consequently, there is no reason to be afraid of losing them either.
6-They are selfish:
Fake-friends are those individuals who are completely absorbed in their self-centeredness and primarily fixated on fulfilling their own needs and desires. They rarely dedicate any significant amount of time or effort to pondering and contemplating their own needs, desires, and aspirations.
7-They only care about their needs:
Fake-friends are only there for their benefit. They may not talk to you for days, but when they need something, like a ride, they will suddenly reach out. It’s important to remember that real friendship is mutual and doesn’t involve using each other. Your time is better spent enjoying yourself alone rather than wasting it on false friends.
8-They over-criticize you:
A true friend does not excessively criticize you. If someone constantly questions your behaviors, ideas, or choices, they may not be a genuine friend.They’re fake. While a certain amount of disagreement is normal in any relationship, an excessive amount is a red flag.
9-They do not provide support to you:
If a friend constantly cannot be there for you when you need them, it indicates their lack of investment in the relationship. Instead of offering emotional support and attentiveness, they might provide half-hearted affirmations or comments. A true friend will prioritize your needs and offer encouragement and emotional support.
10-They spread false information about you:
Friendship is an incredible bond that is built upon a foundation of trust. Therefore, when individuals who are supposed to be your dear friends engage in deceiving you or spreading false information about your character, it is safe to conclude that they do not possess the qualities of true friendship. In all honesty, it becomes abundantly clear that you do not require their presence in your life, for they serve no purpose other than to hinder your growth and happiness.
11-They might envy you:
Fake friends may harbor feelings of envy or jealousy when you succeed and could even start competing with you, instead of genuinely rejoicing in and celebrating your hard-earned achievements.
How to deal with fake friends?
1-Surround yourself with real friends:
It is essential to make sure that your circle of friends is filled with genuine friends instead of fake ones. To achieve this, it’s important to put in the time and effort to nurture and develop relationships with friends who truly have your best interests at heart and care about your well-being. This will ensure a strong, supportive, and authentic group of friends surrounding you.
Related:10 Tips to Maintain Lasting and strong Friendships
2-Put your emotional requirements first:
When managing fake friends, it’s simpler to prioritize your desires and needs. You might often go out of your way to satisfy someone who isn’t easy to please. If you’re spending more bad moments with a person than happy ones, always remember to cater to your emotional requirements first. It’s completely fine to take a step back for a while or just decrease the time and effort spent on this relationship if it begins to feel too draining for you.
Related:How to Find Emotional Healing?
3-Lessen your interaction with them:
It’s not always necessary to completely cut off a fake friendship. If you have mutual friends or share a workplace, it might be impractical to end things completely. Instead, accept that you won’t see this person one-on-one very often. Avoid inviting them to any personal outings or small gatherings, and just keep them on the outskirts of your life.
4-Set limits:
It may not be practical to devote significant time and energy to a fake friend. Be conscious of your tolerance level for this person and manage your interactions accordingly. In your relationships, give thoughtfully and avoid investing too much in those who disrespect you or violate your boundaries, as fake-friends often do. Remember, you don’t owe respect to someone who disrespects you. If dealing with a fake friend becomes troublesome, feel free to distance yourself, while still remaining civil in group settings. Focus your emotional energy on genuine friendships and seek out those who share your values.
Related:The Limits of Friendship
5-Talk with them:
One way to address the issue of fake friends is by initiating a conversation with them. If you feel like your friend frequently behaves deceitfully or conceals things, don’t ignore these signs. Instead, take the time to talk to them about your concerns and provide clear reasons for your unease. A real friend, upon hearing your observations, will reflect and make an effort to change their behavior. However, if they dismiss your concerns and continue acting similarly, you can confidently conclude that they aren’t a genuine friend and have no intention of changing their ways. This realization allows you to determine your next course of action.
In conclusion
By recognizing and distancing ourselves from fake friends, we can nurture authentic bonds that enrich our lives.
