Secondary age kids - is their social life more virtual than actual?

[EssentialFattyAcid]

My friends tell me that their teens socialise after school via internet but do not physically spend time with their friends outside of school.

Is this typical?

I wouldn't say so. Mine are 14 and 16, but live quite a way from school.
DD 14 usually goes somewhere with friends at the weekend.
DS 16 meets up sometimes after school, but is out on Friday nights with his friends. They do spend a lot of time on the internet/phones but it is not instead of meeting up. They wouldn't be going out very often in the week after school as it is.

bruffin - so do yours typically have one RL meet up outside of school per week?

At least. DD has a busy life swimming monday, scouts friday, volunteering at sn groups on saturday and sunday. Scouts is all her friends from primary. But usually at least one meetup with some friends at the weekend as well, and during the holidays its usually a lot more than that.

DS has had a job recently so not had so much free time, but he is always out on a friday and often has a party on saturday.
So they are meeting friends in more formal settings as well, so at least once a week.

That's quite reassuring bruffin
Maybe my friends' kids are unusual - even though their parents claim not! They do see friends after school at swimming club/other formal activities, but hardly ever informally at each others' houses/ going to town/ whatever