Tag Archives: friends

Why making friends at university feels harder than it really is

Why making friends at university feels harder than it really is

The summer before starting university can be a time of multiple worries for students. Worry about obtaining a place on your desired course. Worry about navigating clearing to confirm your place. Worries about securing accommodation, sorting student finance, preparation for academic studies and even finding the right stationery are also common. Yet many students’ biggest […] … learn more→

1 in 3 people are lonely. Will AI help, or make things worse?

1 in 3 people are lonely. Will AI help, or make things worse?

ChatGPT has repeatedly made headlines since its release late last year, with various scholars and professionals exploring its potential applications in both work and education settings. However, one area receiving less attention is the tool’s usefulness as a conversationalist and – dare we say – as a potential friend. Some chatbots have left an unsettling impression. Microsoft’s Bing chatbot […] … learn more→

Why it’s good for kids to have friends from different socioeconomic backgrounds

Why it’s good for kids to have friends from different socioeconomic backgrounds

Friendships that bridge across social class – “cross-class friendships” – can minimize middle school academic achievement differences that are based on the level of parents’ education, according to research from the UCLA School Diversity Project. As scholars of adolescent development, we examined academic achievement differences among 4,288 middle school students in California based on their parents’ education level. […] … learn more→