Spotting one-sided friendships before they drain your vibe
Friendship is not always about sunshine, shared memes, and matching tattoos. Sometimes, itâs you doing all the chasing while they ghost you like youâre yesterdayâs group chat. If you’re starting to wonder whether your so-called bestie is actually vibing with the title, here’s your sign to investigate.
So, how can you tell if someone just doesnât want to be your BFF? Weâve got the tea.

1. Youâre always the first to text
If your message history appears to be a solo monologue, it’s time to step back. Youâre pinging good morning memes, weekend plans, and life updatesâand theyâre replying three days later with âk.â Ouch.
Translation? You might be talking to the friendship version of a voicemail box.
2. Their energy is⊠meh
Youâre excited. Theyâre lukewarm. You exclaim, “Guess what?!” and receive a response of “lol” or, worse, “meh.”
Letâs be realâtrue friends match your energy (or at least try). If they constantly hit you with bland replies, itâs like showing up to a party and finding out itâs just someone doing laundry.
3. They act like youâre a chore
Hanging out shouldnât feel like youâre scheduling a tax appointment. If every plan you make is dodged like a dodgeball, or if they turn up with the enthusiasm of soggy toast, theyâre not prioritising you.
Hot tip: Real friends want to spend time with youânot avoid it like it’s jury duty.

4. Youâre the CEO of the Friendship
Making plans? You.
Are you checking in?
Remembering birthdays? Also you.
Meanwhile, theyâre just…existing. If you feel like youâre running a one-person friendship company, itâs time to check the balance sheet. Because that energy? Itâs costing you.
5. Their social media = your emotional rollercoaster
You hype up their every selfie and story with likes, comments, and fire emojis. But when do you post? Crickets.
đ» âSeen.â
đ» No like.
đ» No comment.
Now, not everyoneâs into social mediaâbut if theyâre busy liking everyone but you, thatâs a silent signal with loud vibes.
6. They talkâbut only about themselves
A conversation should be a two-way street, not a never-ending TED Talk about their drama, their holidays, and their catâs birthday.
If you leave every catch-up knowing everything about them and nothing about how youâre doingâHouston, we have a problem.
Friendship maths: 90% them + 10% awkward silence = 0% real connection.
7. The shade is subtle but strong
Do their jokes feel a little too sharp? Do they compliment you⊠but only backhandedly? (âYouâre brave for wearing that!â = major side-eye)
Friends tease, sure. But if it always feels like the punchline is you, theyâre not being playfulâtheyâre being passive-aggressive.
How to deal with a one-sided friendship
Realising someone isnât your ride-or-die is toughâlike ordering your fave milkshake and getting soy kale foam. Disappointing. But freeing.

Hereâs what you do:
- Stop chasing.
- Set boundaries.
- Focus on the ones who do show up.
Because of your time, your love, and your energy? Itâs precious. And the right people will value it.
Final thoughts: Ditch the drama, keep the diamonds
Friendship should be like a great playlistâuplifting, fun, and with zero skips. If someone isnât matching your energy, thatâs okay. Not every connection is meant to be forever.
So protect your peace. Choose your people. And always remember: real BFFs donât just laugh with youâthey show up, they check in, and they never make you question your worth.
Be the friend you wish you had, and the right ones will stick like glitter.