My 16 year old son does not go out with friends. He seems to have friends at school, where he is doing well, but he is not involved with the party/going out scene at the weekends. Part of me (quite a big part actually) is relieved that I don't have to worry about what he is getting up to, but a small part of me is worried he is lonely. He has not complained, but he is 16, so he I would not expect him to confide in me anyway. He plays on his xbox and chats to school friends on that and very occasionally has a game of golf with 3 friends, which he enjoys, but that is always organised by the mums. Is this fairly normal for this age and will he get more social as he gets older? If so I can relax and enjoy the fact that he spends so much time at home.
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Oh I can so understand where you are coming from 
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I spend ages trying to make ds2 more outgoing like ds1, who was always part of a social gang and always had something happening. But I really think ds2 just likes his own company more. And is happy to be home alone rather than hanging out with a gang of school friends.
If your ds has friends at school it probably means he is fine. As long as he has someone to eat lunch with or sit with on a school trip, things are probably fine. I've noticed that boys in particular seem to grow up at different stages, and some just don't bother going out at night etc until they are about 18, whereas others are off drinking at 16.
I mean some adults say they don't like socialising much and are happiest at home, yet we expect our young people to be outgoing all the time.
I think that everything you have said sounds entirely normal and nothing to worry about VANESSA.
I've got two busy, sociable daughters so no personal experience to add but thought I would tell you about my friend's son who never ever had anything on and would never ever pick up the phone and organise anything, ever. My friend worried and worried about him.
Even when he was eighteen and in the Upper Sixth, my friend was tearing her hear out because he genuinely had nothing at all to do unless she organised it for him.
She occasionally organised for him to get together with another boy (of the same ilk!) via his Mum (also tearing her hair out). She pushed him to do Scouts and DofE to keep him busy and push him in with other people. She also organised for him to volunteer at our local wind-surfing club all summer one year as a helper with the little ones. But, otherwise, he was sat at home on his Playstation on his own.
Two and a half years ago, he went off to university and she worried herself sick that he would sit in his room on his own, make no friends and that at the end of the three years no-one would have even heard of him.
I'm happy to tell you that he joined a few societies in week one at university and that his life took off.
Now, when he comes home from uni he almost always brings a friend or two with him or has friends arriving to come and stay after a few days. Or he can't come home because he's off to some party or birthday bash or trip or whatever.
It's a huge, happy relief to my friend. Maybe he just needed a fresh start but I think people just mature and develop in different ways at different times.
To be fair though, I also think it's difficult at school because there are only so many people in your year to choose from - this is why outside and extra-curricular stuff can be so important, in my opinion
Hope this helps
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