When most people think about their close friends, it is the ones met in childhood or through a hobby that generally spring to mind. Friends you have known for years, or that made an impact on you when you first met – typically, people you know through a social activity.
However, it appears that this is changing, with a third of British people now claiming to have made the majority of their friends in their commercial property place of work.
In a poll of 2,012 people, conducted by mobile phone provider O2 in conjunction with the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S111 handset, some interesting results about modern Britain’s social habits were revealed. In previous years, the majority of Brits made friends through shared hobbies, introductions by other friends or family members, or during their time in education.
Now, only one in ten still keep in close contact with friends made at university, and only four per cent are likely to keep in touch with acquaintances met whilst on holiday. This drops to only three per cent when the question of hobbies is raised, as most people now claim to be too busy working to dedicate much time to sport, music and the arts.
O2 spokesman David Johnson said; “We are bound to make a large number of friends at work because we now spend a lot of our time there.
“It means we get to know our colleagues as well as – and in some cases better than – friends made in other parts of our lives.”
However, while work colleagues may make up the majority of our friends these days, the poll also found that our best friends are those who we have known since childhood. A third of adults say they met their best friend when in the same class at school, with the office taking second place in the closeness stakes – only 27 per cent claim their best friend is a workmate. The remainder of those surveyed said they met their best friend through a mutual friend (11 per cent) or university (10 per cent).
Mr Johnson continued; “Although work may be where we have the largest number of friends, the playground is still where we make those we feel closest to. Indeed, many still have daily contact with an old school friend.
“And even those who now live a long way away from each other can stay in close contact with social networking, text messaging and email.
“Technology has become a vital way to keep friendships close over the years.”
Do you agree that the workplace has overtaken more traditional methods of meeting friends, such as through hobbies or whilst socialising with other friends? Are you still in contact with friends you made in school, or are you one of the 27 per cent of people who met their closest friend at the office?
Previous Post
HMV Group Release Annual Results
I met one of my best friends at primary school aged 6, 20 years on we are still best mates and she is even going to be my bridesmaid at my wedding.
I think school friends will always be my best friends. We have known each other too long and done so much together just to let it slip away 🙂
What a lovely story Rachel. I hope you remain friends for years to come.