We’re living in a time where friendship can feel more like a curated brand than a genuine bond. Where clout, aesthetics, and social metrics quietly shape who gets chosen…and who gets left out. This carousel explores how capitalism, influencer culture, and the “friend goals” era push us toward building entourages instead of friend-groups and how that leaves so many of us feeling unseen, undervalued, or uninvited. But at Free to Be Collective, we know that community is not a performance. And for those of us who create content or share our lives online, that balance gets even more complicated. Because we’re navigating two worlds at once: ✨ the world where visibility is currency ✨ and the world where authenticity is the only thing that actually sustains you You’re allowed to have and want both. You’re allowed to grow your platform without turning your friendships into props. You’re allowed to build community without turning people into performance pieces. You’re allowed to create conte...