Algorithmic friendship

Published: Friday, April 25, 2025 at 3:20 am

Algorithmic Friendship: When Tech Meets Human Connection

In a world increasingly reliant on technology, even friendships are getting a digital makeover. This article explores a fascinating, and somewhat humorous, look at how one individual has automated his friendships, using a system to maintain connections with minimal effort.

The author discovered that their friend had implemented a sophisticated system, likely a custom-built app or code, to schedule calls and send pre-written text messages every five weeks. The texts, varying slightly in wording, served as a prompt for a catch-up call, ensuring consistent communication. Initially, the author was taken aback, but ultimately impressed by the ingenuity of this "Friendship Code."

Intrigued, the author decided to disrupt the system, sending a pre-programmed text message a day early. This led to a revealing phone call where the friend, unphased, explained his "tickler file" system. He emphasized the efficiency of his approach, stating it allowed him to maintain friendships without the burden of remembering to reach out. The system automatically sends texts, schedules calls, and provides reminders.

The author, after initially trying to disrupt the system, was ultimately impressed by the friend's approach. The article concludes with the author's request to learn the system, only to discover that the friend charges $500 for the code, unless you're a "every-two-weeks-or-higher" friend.

This story offers a thought-provoking commentary on modern friendship, the role of technology in our lives, and the lengths people go to maintain connections in a busy world. It highlights the tension between genuine human interaction and the efficiency of automation, leaving the reader to ponder the evolving nature of relationships in the digital age. The author, Rob Long, is a television writer and producer.

Keywords: algorithmic friendship, friendship, technology, automation, communication, relationships, digital age, app, code, catch up, text messages, scheduling, modern friendship, Rob Long, Cheers, Ricochet.com

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