In "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez, the author highlights the strange disconnect between the lives of college students and their portrayal in fiction. Despite the reality that many students are engaged with social media for hours on end, this aspect is often overlooked in student narratives. The fiction created around these characters tends to neglect the significant role that the internet plays in their lives.

This discrepancy raises questions about authenticity and representation in student fiction. While students may be immersed in online interactions, the fictional worlds they inhabit often remain devoid of this modern influence, leading to a puzzling absence. Nunez's observation encourages readers to reflect on how contemporary experiences, particularly digital ones, are captured (or ignored) in literature.