In the modern world the common connotation of the word friend might be “a contact associated with through social media.” Yet, online connections and the use of contemporary verbs friending and liking may have nothing to do with actual friendship.
The older, deeper sense of friend comes from the root verb ‘fri-’ meaning “to like, to love, or be affectionate to.”
As with anything meaningful, connection in depth is required for friendship; the lack of it leaves people more isolated and leaves the world with less genuine presence
Watch Michael Meade’s video on Friendships meaning