# Why Best Friends Become Strangers in 5 Years

> Your best friends might vanish after five years of close bonds.
- Title: Why Best Friends Become Strangers in 5 Years · VICE | Shortify
- Summary: Your best friends might vanish after five years of close bonds. Many friendships drift apart after five years due to changing lives and reduced contact.
- Keywords: friendships, relationships, 5-year-stranger-theory, social-circles, VICE
- Source: VICE — https://vice.com/en/article/why-your-best-friends-can-become-complete-strangers-in-just-5-years
- Author: Ashley Fike
- Published: 2026-11-14T15:38:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: friendships, relationships, 5-year-stranger-theory, social-circles, psychology, news, culture
## The 5-Year-Stranger Theory
Many close friendships last around five years before drifting apart.

> a rough rule of thumb, or maybe middle finger, depending on how the friendship ends
## How Friendships Start
Friendships often begin through shared work or living near each other.
## Why Friendships Fade
Reduced contact causes friendships to weaken over time.
## Research on Social Circles
Only 48% of original close contacts remain in networks after seven years.
## What Happens Next
Friendships either fade quietly or end abruptly without explanation.
## Key takeaway

Many friendships drift apart after five years due to changing lives and reduced contact.