Points 1-7 are expanded upon at the site

The average number of close friends we say we have is dropping fast, down dramatically in just the last 20 years. Why?

Because people are getting wise to the fact that those they call "friends" are nothing of the sort, most are mere acquaintances, be they job, or other.

We have always tended to use the term "friend" too liberally to cover all sorts of people that we know.

If you were to ask me how many friends i have , i would have to say, just two, and i have to say that that is how i prefer it.

The study is wrong, imo, if they consider having a minimum number of "genuine 100% loyal" friends "depressing", on the contrary it is most enlightening, you know who you can trust.