{"id":1933427,"date":"2026-05-13T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1933427"},"modified":"2026-05-13T14:03:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:03:00","slug":"there-is-nothing-more-romantic-than-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1933427","title":{"rendered":"There is nothing more romantic than friendship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1080\/56-0-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/5\/1445057.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/life-culture\/article\/70252\/1\/there-is-nothing-more-romantic-than-friendship-dating-platonic-love\" data-article-id=\"70252\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.78\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"image-w1280\" class=\"img\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1280\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/5\/1445057.jpg\" width=\"1280\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">Frances Ha <span class=\"nowrap\">(Film Still)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-13T14:03:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"13 May 2026\"><span class=\"month\">May<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"13\">13,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - life-culture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>There is nothing more romantic <span class=\"nowrap\">than friendship<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>\u2018I think the most radical thing you can do right now is to be a good friend\u2019: Dissatisfied with today\u2019s dating climate, young women are opening up about how romantic platonic love <span class=\"nowrap\">can be<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-05-13T14:03:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"13 May 2026\"><span class=\"month\">May<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"13\">13,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-05-13T14:03:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"13 May 2026\"><span class=\"month\">May<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"13\">13,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/laurapitcher\"><br \/>\nLaura Pitcher<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html-embed\">\n<div class=\"relative w-full overflow-visible\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7b76ed4d-ad89-47d9-af19-54f1acbf25ec\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-thinking\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\">\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"741\" data-is-last-node data-is-only-node>Through romcoms, books and dating norms, we have been sold a certain picture of what romance should look like: someone showing up with flowers, sprinkling rose petals in a hotel room, planning an unexpected romantic getaway, or even getting down on one knee. All of these things tend to happen within the context of a romantic relationship. What is less discussed, and less often depicted, is the romance found in friendships. For Anjali Arasasingham, a 22-year-old graphic designer in New York, romance also looks like flowers, thoughtful gifts and effortful plans, but it usually comes from her best friends. \u201cThe way I feel with my female friendships is something I\u2019ve never felt about my heterosexual relationships,\u201d says Arasasingham.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Online, especially among young women, there is a growing conversation about how romantic friendships can be, with many people sharing that they find their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@dearcaitlynn\/video\/7610187522974502175\">friendships are more intimate<\/a><\/span><span> than their romantic relationships. At the end of last year, writer Chant\u00e9 Joseph <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@chantayyjayy\/video\/7573683441036741910\">posted about<\/a> aspiring to have a friendship so deep that it sparks dating allegations, like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. In the comments, people shared that they \u201cwant a person like Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang\u201d. <\/span><span>This deep desire for platonic romance may also be why so many Gen Z women are now watching <em data-start=\"257\" data-end=\"275\">Sex and the City<\/em> for the first time, resonating with Charlotte\u2019s iconic line: \u201cMaybe we could be each other\u2019s soulmates, and then we can let men be just these great, nice guys to have fun with.\u201d After all, many romantic relationships begin on the solid foundation of friendship. So, as algorithmic dating culture continues to suck the romance out of modern dating, should we all be seeking \u2013 or, at least, further acknowledging \u2013 romance within our friendships?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7208664304676048134\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>For young women who date men \u2013 and who are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/07\/21\/magazine\/men-heterofatalism-dating-relationships.html\">increasingly dissatisfied<\/a> with the state of heterosexual dating \u2013 romantic friendships are setting the standard for what to expect in love. Arasasingham says she and her friends have similar love languages, giving each other more thoughtful gifts than any romantic partner has. \u201cThe more I pour into your platonic relationships, the better I feel,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd the more it raises my standards for romantic relationships because I feel seen so deeply.\u201d Feifei, a 22-year-old writer in Nigeria, says her friendships have consistently shown her what love is supposed to feel like. \u201cThere\u2019s no hot and cold, and I don\u2019t have to constantly prove myself worthy of basic affection,\u201d she says. \u201cMy friends love me on my bad days, celebrate my wins without making it weird, and tell me hard truths because they actually care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The current gender divide between Gen Z women and men \u2013 who not only have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/poll-gen-zs-gender-divide-reaches-politics-views-marriage-children-suc-rcna229255\">different political views<\/a>, but different dating expectations \u2013 could also be seen as a romance divide. In a 2023 survey, close to half of college-educated single women in America reported having trouble finding someone who meets their expectations, including political views, educational background, employment status, and even smoking habits. But, in many cases, they may be able to align on at least some of those fronts with the women around them. \u201cGender plays a part because, as a woman who has dated both men and women, I find it easier to make strong connections with women, as we generally have the same mindset,\u201d says Thembi Basi, a 29-year-old in Johannesburg.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>\u201cThere\u2019s no hot and cold, and I don\u2019t have to constantly prove myself worthy of basic affection. My friends love me on my bad days, celebrate my wins without making it weird, and tell me hard truths because they actually care\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>It is hard to measure romance, especially when what we are so often sold as romantic is wrapped up in heteronormativity. That is why even speaking about how loving some friendships feel becomes important to expanding our ideas of what is actually romantic. For Basi, it is the depth of intimacy in her friendships, and the constant knowingness that carries through all stages of life, that makes them feel more romantic than her dating life. \u201cAt the moment, dating is feeling quite transactional, and we\u2019re all missing the realness, openness and vulnerability of relationships that\u2019s gotten lost along the way,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you take away physical intimacy, how much more value is your partner actually adding to your life compared to your friends?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps today\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gse.harvard.edu\/ideas\/usable-knowledge\/24\/10\/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it\">loneliness epidemic<\/a> is one reason more people are acknowledging that romance can be found in friendship \u2013 or at least that is what Caitlyn Richardson, a writer and creator in New York, theorises. \u201cA lot of the relationships that we have these days are not really built for depth, so we\u2019re not necessarily just looking toward romance, but at something that feels more grounded and sustainable,\u201d she says. To offer this feeling to her friends, she remembers small things they have mentioned in passing, like a book or perfume they love, and brings them to them later. Sometimes, it is simpler: bringing a friend coffee on a difficult day, or showing up without being asked. Many of these gestures were once considered the standard of friendship, before hyper-individualism took over our relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7626428882790452511\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Like romantic relationships, not all friendships are equally romantic \u2013 and not every person is looking for romance in their friendships. There is an entire camp of people posting about how much they detest so-called \u201chigh maintenance\u201d friends, saying, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@monetbitton\/video\/7634100094224174352\">I\u2019m not your boyfriend<\/a>\u201d. It is why, each year, there is some debate online along the lines of whether asking for a ride to the airport is asking \u201ctoo much\u201d from a friend. As someone who takes friendship seriously, I have always struggled to develop close relationships with people who consistently put their partner at the centre of their life and treat friendships like an afterthought. That being said, we exist in a society that prioritises romantic love, meaning it often takes active effort to find the balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Grace Koyama Chance, a 24-year-old in Sydney, Australia, holds hands with her friends and writes them elaborate love letters. \u201cI outline all the ways I find their <\/span><span>essence beautiful, the way I\u2019m proud of them, the gratitude I feel for the way our friendship has evolved, and the unique perspective and ingredient they bring to my life,\u201d she says. \u201cTo build barriers to romance as a quality to be experienced only in the structure of a romantic relationship is a big shame; where there is mutual and true admiration, vulnerability and connection, romance is always close by.\u201d And, to <\/span><span>Chance and to other young women, it doesn\u2019t matter what label it exists under.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>To compare the romance of platonic love to romantic love would be a disservice to the unparalleled beauty of friendship, but acknowledging that romance can come from a range of places opens up a wealth of possibilities for our romantic lives. \u201cI don&#8217;t think friendship needs romance\u2019s validation,\u201d says Idowu. \u201cThe problem isn\u2019t that friendships aren\u2019t romantic enough; it&#8217;s that we\u2019ve spent so long treating romantic love as the only love that counts that we\u2019ve underinvested in our friendships and then wondered why we feel lonely.\u201d The remedy, according to Idowu, is simple: start taking your friendships as seriously as your romantic relationships. \u201cI think the most radical thing you can do right now is to be a good friend,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! 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Photography<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"split-rail-card__title card-latest__title\">Things To Come: Porn saves the world in Maja Malou Lyse\u2019s \u2018bimbo sci-fi\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"split-rail-card card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/70238\/1\/spending-the-night-with-brooklyn-clown-cult-clowning-new-york\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"split-rail-card__img-wrapper card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ClownCultFrickFrack-404\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/640\/0-338-1537-1024\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/4\/1444963.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"split-rail-card__content card-latest__content\"><span class=\"split-rail-card__ribbon card-latest__ribbon\">Beauty<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"split-rail-card__title card-latest__title\">A hot, sweaty night with Brooklyn\u2019s young clowns<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html-embed\">\n<div class=\"relative w-full overflow-visible\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7b76ed4d-ad89-47d9-af19-54f1acbf25ec\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-thinking\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\">\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"741\" data-is-last-node data-is-only-node>Through romcoms, books and dating norms, we have been sold a certain picture of what romance should look like: someone showing up with flowers, sprinkling rose petals in a hotel room, planning an unexpected romantic getaway, or even getting down on one knee. All of these things tend to happen within the context of a romantic relationship. What is less discussed, and less often depicted, is the romance found in friendships. For Anjali Arasasingham, a 22-year-old graphic designer in New York, romance also looks like flowers, thoughtful gifts and effortful plans, but it usually comes from her best friends. \u201cThe way I feel with my female friendships is something I\u2019ve never felt about my heterosexual relationships,\u201d says Arasasingham.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Online, especially among young women, there is a growing conversation about how romantic friendships can be, with many people sharing that they find their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@dearcaitlynn\/video\/7610187522974502175\">friendships are more intimate<\/a><\/span><span> than their romantic relationships. At the end of last year, writer Chant\u00e9 Joseph <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@chantayyjayy\/video\/7573683441036741910\">posted about<\/a> aspiring to have a friendship so deep that it sparks dating allegations, like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. In the comments, people shared that they \u201cwant a person like Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang\u201d. <\/span><span>This deep desire for platonic romance may also be why so many Gen Z women are now watching <em data-start=\"257\" data-end=\"275\">Sex and the City<\/em> for the first time, resonating with Charlotte\u2019s iconic line: \u201cMaybe we could be each other\u2019s soulmates, and then we can let men be just these great, nice guys to have fun with.\u201d After all, many romantic relationships begin on the solid foundation of friendship. So, as algorithmic dating culture continues to suck the romance out of modern dating, should we all be seeking \u2013 or, at least, further acknowledging \u2013 romance within our friendships?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7208664304676048134\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>For young women who date men \u2013 and who are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/07\/21\/magazine\/men-heterofatalism-dating-relationships.html\">increasingly dissatisfied<\/a> with the state of heterosexual dating \u2013 romantic friendships are setting the standard for what to expect in love. Arasasingham says she and her friends have similar love languages, giving each other more thoughtful gifts than any romantic partner has. \u201cThe more I pour into your platonic relationships, the better I feel,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd the more it raises my standards for romantic relationships because I feel seen so deeply.\u201d Feifei, a 22-year-old writer in Nigeria, says her friendships have consistently shown her what love is supposed to feel like. \u201cThere\u2019s no hot and cold, and I don\u2019t have to constantly prove myself worthy of basic affection,\u201d she says. \u201cMy friends love me on my bad days, celebrate my wins without making it weird, and tell me hard truths because they actually care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The current gender divide between Gen Z women and men \u2013 who not only have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/poll-gen-zs-gender-divide-reaches-politics-views-marriage-children-suc-rcna229255\">different political views<\/a>, but different dating expectations \u2013 could also be seen as a romance divide. In a 2023 survey, close to half of college-educated single women in America reported having trouble finding someone who meets their expectations, including political views, educational background, employment status, and even smoking habits. But, in many cases, they may be able to align on at least some of those fronts with the women around them. \u201cGender plays a part because, as a woman who has dated both men and women, I find it easier to make strong connections with women, as we generally have the same mindset,\u201d says Thembi Basi, a 29-year-old in Johannesburg.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>\u201cThere\u2019s no hot and cold, and I don\u2019t have to constantly prove myself worthy of basic affection. My friends love me on my bad days, celebrate my wins without making it weird, and tell me hard truths because they actually care\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>It is hard to measure romance, especially when what we are so often sold as romantic is wrapped up in heteronormativity. That is why even speaking about how loving some friendships feel becomes important to expanding our ideas of what is actually romantic. For Basi, it is the depth of intimacy in her friendships, and the constant knowingness that carries through all stages of life, that makes them feel more romantic than her dating life. \u201cAt the moment, dating is feeling quite transactional, and we\u2019re all missing the realness, openness and vulnerability of relationships that\u2019s gotten lost along the way,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you take away physical intimacy, how much more value is your partner actually adding to your life compared to your friends?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps today\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gse.harvard.edu\/ideas\/usable-knowledge\/24\/10\/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it\">loneliness epidemic<\/a> is one reason more people are acknowledging that romance can be found in friendship \u2013 or at least that is what Caitlyn Richardson, a writer and creator in New York, theorises. \u201cA lot of the relationships that we have these days are not really built for depth, so we\u2019re not necessarily just looking toward romance, but at something that feels more grounded and sustainable,\u201d she says. To offer this feeling to her friends, she remembers small things they have mentioned in passing, like a book or perfume they love, and brings them to them later. Sometimes, it is simpler: bringing a friend coffee on a difficult day, or showing up without being asked. Many of these gestures were once considered the standard of friendship, before hyper-individualism took over our relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7626428882790452511\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Like romantic relationships, not all friendships are equally romantic \u2013 and not every person is looking for romance in their friendships. There is an entire camp of people posting about how much they detest so-called \u201chigh maintenance\u201d friends, saying, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@monetbitton\/video\/7634100094224174352\">I\u2019m not your boyfriend<\/a>\u201d. It is why, each year, there is some debate online along the lines of whether asking for a ride to the airport is asking \u201ctoo much\u201d from a friend. As someone who takes friendship seriously, I have always struggled to develop close relationships with people who consistently put their partner at the centre of their life and treat friendships like an afterthought. That being said, we exist in a society that prioritises romantic love, meaning it often takes active effort to find the balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Grace Koyama Chance, a 24-year-old in Sydney, Australia, holds hands with her friends and writes them elaborate love letters. \u201cI outline all the ways I find their <\/span><span>essence beautiful, the way I\u2019m proud of them, the gratitude I feel for the way our friendship has evolved, and the unique perspective and ingredient they bring to my life,\u201d she says. \u201cTo build barriers to romance as a quality to be experienced only in the structure of a romantic relationship is a big shame; where there is mutual and true admiration, vulnerability and connection, romance is always close by.\u201d And, to <\/span><span>Chance and to other young women, it doesn\u2019t matter what label it exists under.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>To compare the romance of platonic love to romantic love would be a disservice to the unparalleled beauty of friendship, but acknowledging that romance can come from a range of places opens up a wealth of possibilities for our romantic lives. \u201cI don&#8217;t think friendship needs romance\u2019s validation,\u201d says Idowu. \u201cThe problem isn\u2019t that friendships aren\u2019t romantic enough; it&#8217;s that we\u2019ve spent so long treating romantic love as the only love that counts that we\u2019ve underinvested in our friendships and then wondered why we feel lonely.\u201d The remedy, according to Idowu, is simple: start taking your friendships as seriously as your romantic relationships. \u201cI think the most radical thing you can do right now is to be a good friend,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/70252\/1\/there-is-nothing-more-romantic-than-friendship-dating-platonic-love&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1080\/56-0-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/5\/1445057.jpg&#8221;] Frances Ha (Film Still) May\u00a0 13,\u00a0 2026 Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature There is nothing more romantic than friendship \u2018I think the most radical thing you can do right now is to be a good friend\u2019: Dissatisfied with today\u2019s dating climate, young women are opening up about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1933427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1933427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1933427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1933427\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1933427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1933427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1933427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}