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The Difference Between Friend Types, According to a Psychologist

These viral friendship labels describe very different social experiences, but a psychologist warns they might do more harm than good.

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If you’re online at all today, you likely know there’s a label for just about everything, from dating patterns to friendship dynamics. Recent examples include “filler friends” and “floater friends,” which can be incredibly offensive depending on the context. 

Here’s what you should know about these friendship “types,” the potential downsides of categorizing yourself and other humans, and how to reject the label while focusing on healthy connections.

What Are Filler Friends?

According to Dr. Kelly Whaling of Prosper Health, “A filler friend is someone who feels like a backup option in a friendship or social group.”

“They might only be contacted when other people are unavailable, receive last-minute invitations, or feel that their efforts to maintain the friendship aren’t reciprocated,” she explains. 

This label is offensive to most people, as it essentially devalues the individual and poses them as a temporary fill-in. 

What Are Floater Friends?

On the other hand, “A floater friend is........

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