Saudi women’s social fragility in friendship relationships and its social and cultural effects in urban areas: an analytical social study

This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to explore the fragility of friendships among Saudi women in urban areas, addressing how social and cultural transformations influence interpersonal dynamics. Data was collected through interviews and observations with female university students aged 17 to 23, recruited from a university with multiple branches across different regions of Saudi Arabia, ensuring diverse social and cultural representation.Findings reveal that social fragility manifests in heightened sensitivity, insecurity, and weak communication, often exacerbated by materialistic expectations and shifting social norms. Additionally, social homogeneity—defined by shared educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds—affects the degree of relationship fragility, influencing friendship stability. The increasing role of social media further amplifies alienation and detachment, contributing to relationship instability by fostering superficial interactions.These insights underscore the need for targeted interventions, including awareness programs on social relationship management in university settings, digital literacy initiatives to address social media-driven anxieties, and structured activities to foster deeper interpersonal connections. By providing empirical evidence on the evolving nature of friendships in urban communities, this study contributes to a broader sociological discourse on modern social transformations and their impact on relational stability.