Does social media actually deepen our relationships, or is it just making us feel more connected while we drift apart? I noticed that after I deleted Instagram for a month, I had longer phone calls with my closest friends, but I also missed out on casual updates that sparked everyday conversations. The platform's algorithms reward outrage and highlight reels, not genuine intimacy, but I've also reconnected with old classmates I'd never have found otherwise. So is the net effect positive for real friendships, or are we just trading depth for breadth?