A BFF is a term for someone's best friend or close friend and is characterized by trust and permanence, irrespective of the number of times the meaning of friendship has been changed in their lives.[1] BFFs are usually in close contact and have shared experiences, such as attending the same school or sharing musical tastes. Relationships described as BFF are common in high school & middle school and often decline when the parties go to college.[2] The term BFF does not necessarily convey exclusivity; depending on a person's individual interpretation or philosophy of the concept of "BFF", an individual may not have more than one BFF simultaneously.[3]
Origin
In the Friends episode "The One at the Beach", Phoebe uses the term BFF and has to explain to the rest of the gang that it means "best friends forever". Although the concept of having or being a "best friend" is ageless, the acronym BFF was popularized as a quick way for friends to sign off and express their positive feelings for one another while instant-messaging (IM-ing) on the computer or sending a text message on cell phones.[3]
According to a survey in France, the BFF friendship is a concept that occupies a certain place on social networks.[6] This value is reassuring, especially for the millennial generation that experiences a divorce frequently. It is a sign of social success and a balanced life.
A large survey of friendship in the UK in 2003 found that on average, people had nine close friends.[1] In elementary and middle school, best friendships often last less than one full academic year.[7]
Barbara Delinsky described a BFF as "someone you don't have to see every day to still connect with, someone who loves you whether you talk often or not, someone who would drop everything and catch the next flight if you needed her. It's someone who couldn't care less where or what she eats, as long as she's with you."[8]
Academic studies
In 2010, the BFF concept was a part of a BFF contract "to encourage the signatories to work through their differences before splitting up."[9]
In a study conducted at the University of Oxford, Tamas David-Barrett and his colleagues reported that there is an unusually large number of profile pictures on Facebook that depict two women.[10] This pattern is present in each region of the world. After eliminating the alternative hypotheses, the study concluded that the finding suggests that (a) close friendship formation patterns are universal among humans, and (b) there is a marked gender difference in the propensity to form lasting friendship due to an evolutionary ultimate cause.[10] This suggests that the BFF concept, albeit with a different name, may exist in many cultures, going back to evolutionary times. Recent studies have also shown that close friends are treated as siblings[11] throughout the lifespan.[12]
Commercial use
Coca-Cola has used the expression on some of their products. For example, some of their cans and bottles say, "Share a Diet Coke with your BFF".[13]
References
^ abIrene S. Levine (2009), "Ch. 1: Understanding Female Friendships", Best Friends Forever, Penguin, ISBN9781590203705
^Debra L. Oswald, Eddie M. Clark (2003), "Best friends forever?: High school best friendships and the transition to college", Personal Relationships, 10 (2): 187–196, doi:10.1111/1475-6811.00045
^ ab"BFF: DOB 1996 - Welcome to the Oxford English Dictionary". Psychology Today.
^"My BFF just told me "TTYL" is in the dictionary. LMAO. - OUPblog". OUPblog. 16 September 2010.
^Mina Soundiram, lexpress.fr, Amitié: appartenir à une bande est devenu un signe de réussite sociale, France , December 14, 2015
^Berndt, T. J.; Hawkins, J. A.; Hoyle, S. G. (1986). "Changes in friendship during a school year: Effects on children's and adolescents' impressions of friendship and sharing with friends". Child Development. 57 (5): 1284–1297. doi:10.2307/1130451. JSTOR 1130451.
^"What is a BFF?". barbaradelinsky.com. 29 February 2012.
^, Sarasota Herald Tribune, p. B1, February 11, 2010, archived from the original on May 31, 2020, retrieved March 25, 2014
^ abDavid-Barrett, Tamas; Rotkirch, Anna; Carney, James; Behncke Izquierdo, Isabel; Krems, Jaimie A.; Townley, Dylan; McDaniell, Elinor; Byrne-Smith, Anna; Dunbar, Robin I. M. (2015-03-16). "Women Favour Dyadic Relationships, but Men Prefer Clubs: Cross-Cultural Evidence from Social Networking". PLOS ONE. 10 (3): e0118329. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1018329D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118329. PMC4361571. PMID 25775258.
^Rotkirch, Anna; Lyons, Minna; David-Barrett, Tamas; Jokela, Markus (1 October 2014). "Gratitude for Help among Adult Friends and Siblings". Evolutionary Psychology. 12 (4): 147470491401200. doi:10.1177/147470491401200401.
^David-Barrett, Tamas; Behncke Izquierdo, Isabel; Carney, James; Nowak, Katharina; Launay, Jacques; Rotkirch, Anna (14 May 2016). "Life course similarities on social networking sites". Advances in Life Course Research. 30: 84–89. doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2016.04.002.
^Coca-Cola Celebrates a Summer of Sharing, Coca-Cola Press Release June 10, 2014
July 13, 2023
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For other uses see Best friends forever disambiguation Best Friends Forever is a phrase that describes a close friendship It is often written as an initialism BFF The words Best Friends Forever written on the Golden Gate Bridge Contents 1 Definition 2 Origin 3 Cultural perception 4 Academic studies 5 Commercial use 6 ReferencesDefinition EditA BFF is a term for someone s best friend or close friend and is characterized by trust and permanence irrespective of the number of times the meaning of friendship has been changed in their lives 1 BFFs are usually in close contact and have shared experiences such as attending the same school or sharing musical tastes Relationships described as BFF are common in high school amp middle school and often decline when the parties go to college 2 The term BFF does not necessarily convey exclusivity depending on a person s individual interpretation or philosophy of the concept of BFF an individual may not have more than one BFF simultaneously 3 Origin EditIn the Friends episode The One at the Beach Phoebe uses the term BFF and has to explain to the rest of the gang that it means best friends forever Although the concept of having or being a best friend is ageless the acronym BFF was popularized as a quick way for friends to sign off and express their positive feelings for one another while instant messaging IM ing on the computer or sending a text message on cell phones 3 The acronym BFF was added to the New Oxford American Dictionary on 16 September 2010 4 The Oxford English Dictionary documents a use of BFF in 1978 5 Cultural perception EditAccording to a survey in France the BFF friendship is a concept that occupies a certain place on social networks 6 This value is reassuring especially for the millennial generation that experiences a divorce frequently It is a sign of social success and a balanced life A large survey of friendship in the UK in 2003 found that on average people had nine close friends 1 In elementary and middle school best friendships often last less than one full academic year 7 Barbara Delinsky described a BFF as someone you don t have to see every day to still connect with someone who loves you whether you talk often or not someone who would drop everything and catch the next flight if you needed her It s someone who couldn t care less where or what she eats as long as she s with you 8 Academic studies EditIn 2010 the BFF concept was a part of a BFF contract to encourage the signatories to work through their differences before splitting up 9 In a study conducted at the University of Oxford Tamas David Barrett and his colleagues reported that there is an unusually large number of profile pictures on Facebook that depict two women 10 This pattern is present in each region of the world After eliminating the alternative hypotheses the study concluded that the finding suggests that a close friendship formation patterns are universal among humans and b there is a marked gender difference in the propensity to form lasting friendship due to an evolutionary ultimate cause 10 This suggests that the BFF concept albeit with a different name may exist in many cultures going back to evolutionary times Recent studies have also shown that close friends are treated as siblings 11 throughout the lifespan 12 Commercial use EditCoca Cola has used the expression on some of their products For example some of their cans and bottles say Share a Diet Coke with your BFF 13 References Edit a b Irene S Levine 2009 Ch 1 Understanding Female Friendships Best Friends Forever Penguin ISBN 9781590203705 Debra L Oswald Eddie M Clark 2003 Best friends forever High school best friendships and the transition to college Personal Relationships 10 2 187 196 doi 10 1111 1475 6811 00045 a b BFF DOB 1996 Welcome to the Oxford English Dictionary Psychology Today My BFF just told me TTYL is in the dictionary LMAO OUPblog OUPblog 16 September 2010 Oxford English Dictionary s v Mina Soundiram lexpress fr Amitie appartenir a une bande est devenu un signe de reussite sociale France December 14 2015 Berndt T J Hawkins J A Hoyle S G 1986 Changes in friendship during a school year Effects on children s and adolescents impressions of friendship and sharing with friends Child Development 57 5 1284 1297 doi 10 2307 1130451 JSTOR 1130451 What is a BFF barbaradelinsky com 29 February 2012 The BFF Contract makes friendships a lasting proposition Sarasota Herald Tribune p B1 February 11 2010 archived from the original on May 31 2020 retrieved March 25 2014 a b David Barrett Tamas Rotkirch Anna Carney James Behncke Izquierdo Isabel Krems Jaimie A Townley Dylan McDaniell Elinor Byrne Smith Anna Dunbar Robin I M 2015 03 16 Women Favour Dyadic Relationships but Men Prefer Clubs Cross Cultural Evidence from Social Networking PLOS ONE 10 3 e0118329 Bibcode 2015PLoSO 1018329D doi 10 1371 journal pone 0118329 PMC 4361571 PMID 25775258 Rotkirch Anna Lyons Minna David Barrett Tamas Jokela Markus 1 October 2014 Gratitude for Help among Adult Friends and Siblings Evolutionary Psychology 12 4 147470491401200 doi 10 1177 147470491401200401 David Barrett Tamas Behncke Izquierdo Isabel Carney James Nowak Katharina Launay Jacques Rotkirch Anna 14 May 2016 Life course similarities on social networking sites Advances in Life Course Research 30 84 89 doi 10 1016 j alcr 2016 04 002 Coca Cola Celebrates a Summer of Sharing Coca Cola Press Release June 10 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Best friends forever amp oldid 1153836203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
