Is my best friend toxic? A textual analysis of online advice on difficult relationships

In this article, we analyse how mediated discourses of toxic friendships echo and reconstruct the category friend. We ask: what kind assumptions does friendship discourse draw on, forms subjectivity interpersonal relationships are encouraged? Employing a critical analysis digital texts, argue that discursive friend draws on simplistic set classificatory dichotomies distinguishing between good also suggest popular labelling difficult as ‘toxic’ reflects contemporary diffusion notion toxicity in public culture. contend conflation therapeutic culture neoliberal wellness logic, with figure constructed ways support imperatives for self-care self-governance. While much advice situates an important personal tie, there is very little encouragement to ‘work’ these relationships. As such, offer reductive, disposable approach ties overlooks complexities lived experiences relations.