Anyone else’s teen not have a gang of friends

[Fishandchipstwice]

My DD (14) is very sociable but she doesn’t have a gang of friends. I always see big groups of teens hanging out together and wonder if she is missing out - I think she wonders the same too. She has a small number of good friends who she is out with regularly but sees them all on a one to one basis.
Until recently, she also had a lovely boyfriend who took up much of her time but this has finished and she’s a bit lonely as a result.

Mine (13 & 15) seem to have inherited my social anxiety so they don’t go out the house socially, so no gangs there! At school they have a couple of friends.

Mine are boys so it may be different. I have three who are social butterflies and are not happy unless they are surrounded by people and chaos. Two of them are much more introverted and prefer the company of adults. I used to worry about them endlessly but they are 21 and 19 now and have found their way and are happy.

If my experience is anything to go by at that age she's missing out on a awful lot of bitchiness with the nicer ones too scared to stand up to the bullies.
A few good friends that she sees regularly sounds great to me.

My 13 year old has spent all week in his room on his computer

his slightly younger brother is a social butterfly and has been out all day every day

they are so different

She has a small number of good friends who she is out with regularly but sees them all on a one to one basis

I would wish for this over big groups any day tbh.

My boys rarely go out. They do have friends, they play online and they see them at Sports, Scouts etc but they don't hang out very often in person much, mostly gaming online. That's fine with me.

yep. my 15 yr old with ADHD. I feel that we've let him down socially. Every school he's attended has been rubbish socially. Always put of our area so no one can be bothered. He's finding more connections thru sport which is great. Over the years we've tried to make a massive effort but people rarely show interest.

A friend keeps sending me photos of her teens and their gatherings with friends and sports groups. I don't show him these photos. it makes me feel so sad and a bit helpless. I don't know what to do to make it any better for him.

Following for any inspiration...

No, none at all. Post covid, no social life- online seems to be enough. Grim to me.

My 14 ear old doesn't have a gang. He doesn't go out very often and if he does it's usually just with one other friend.

He does Scouts and football which keeps him busy,, he has a friend he plays online with.

I do worry about him but he does have friends at school.