Woman shares 'four friendship red flags' she wishes she knew sooner

Elle McNamara, also known as Bambi Does Beauty, took to social media to share four critical friendship red flags she wishes she had recognized in her 20s to avoid staying close with the wrong people. Relationships might change, but real friendships can last a lifetime if you choose wisely.

Selecting true friends can be challenging, particularly when their intentions are not clear. Having had bad experiences in her early 20s, Elle decided to help others by pointing out behaviors to watch for. Known for her makeup and hygiene tips, she went viral when revealing these friendship red flags that, if identified, should prompt distancing.

Firstly, Elle emphasized that trust is crucial. She termed it a major red flag if you can’t trust a friend around someone you romantically like. She recounted an instance where a friend ended up exchanging numbers with her date right in front of her. This left Elle deeply upset and warning others to pay attention to such signals.

Another concern she reiterated was avoiding friends who speak ill about their close ones behind their backs. According to her, if someone constantly badmouths others to you, they will likely do the same about you. She urged awareness, highlighting that habitual gossip signifies a lack of loyalty and respect.

Next, Elle introduced the concept of "friendship bombing". This involves fake friends showering you with affection initially to create a false bond. Recalling her own university experiences, she noted how some individuals quickly appeared overly affectionate but just as swiftly lost interest. This pattern, Elle stressed, is a manipulation tactic and should be met with caution.

Finally, Elle addressed scenarios where people might use you. As a beauty influencer receiving free products, she observed a so-called friend treating her gifts as an opportunity to stock up personal items. When Elle discovered this friend was selling the products online, it underscored the friend’s deceit. She advised against associating with anyone who uses or lies to you, as their integrity is questionable and dangerous for your own well-being.

By being cautious about these behaviors, Elle encourages women to foster emotionally healthy and trustworthy friendships.

Earlier, SSP wrote that couple names child after autocorrect only to find out it is a lingerie brand.