Do you actually care about those you say 'take care' to?

[Rolf38]

Do people actually care about those the say 'take care' to? I notice that some people say this rather than bye/goodbye, or sometimes in addition to it.

Who would you say 'take care' to and would you actually care about them?

Mostly yes, I care that they get home safe, are generally OK. But I can't think of many people I wouldn't want to generally be OK.

When I say it to customers at work, its only to my favourites. Everyone else I'm polite and professional, but I only say "take care" to the ones I genuinely care about.

I say it. I suppose if I think about it, I do mean it, as in 'take care of yourself' but I don't see it as a deep or meaningful phrase.

I avoid using it as I think it's become a bit meaningless. If I'm speaking to someone who's ill, say, I use 'look after yourself' instead.

Why would you have to care about someone, to hope no harm comes to them?

I tend to say it to people if I am concerned about them in some way, for example if they are unwell, recently bereaved etc.

I work with vulnerable teenagers. I will often end a session/say goodbye on the phone by saying "take care" or "look after yourself". I suppose I say it because I worry about them all when I'm not with them and I want them to know they matter to me. But I probably say it to others without thinking. There isn't really anyone in my life I don't care about on some level.

I mean it sincerely....