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By Avery Finch, Lifestyle & Etiquette Columnist
January 17, 2026

In the vintage days of 2024, a “breakup” was something that happened to romantic couples. You cried, you split the succulents, and you deleted the shared streaming password. But as we navigate the social landscape of 2026, the most devastating—and increasingly litigious—divorces aren’t happening between spouses. They are happening between “besties.” Welcome to the era of the Friendship Pre-Nup, a factual trend where platonic pairs are signing legally binding “Social Contracts” to protect their emotional and digital assets.

The satirical irony of our hyper-connected age is that we no longer trust “vibes” to sustain a relationship. With AI-Driven Social Scoring affecting everything from apartment applications to club memberships, a fallout with a high-status friend can be more than an emotional blow—it can be a financial catastrophe. The Friendship Contract is no longer a joke; it’s a strategic necessity. These documents outline everything from “Right to Digital Image Privacy” (no posting unflattering AI-enhanced photos) to “Exclusivity Clauses” regarding secret vacation spots or specialized aesthetic practitioners.

Controversially, these contracts are creating a “Platonic Tier System.” By codifying loyalty, we are essentially turning friendship into a high-stakes transaction. Critics argue that “Lawyering Up” your social life is the ultimate death of spontaneity, while proponents claim it’s the only way to survive the Social Volatility of 2026. After all, if you’re going to spend $10,000 on a shared “Co-Living” weekend in the Metaverse, you’d better have a clause for who gets the digital villa if someone stops “liking” your posts. In 2026, we’ve realized that a “BFF” is just a business partner who hasn’t sued you yet.