My teen is lonely and doesn't know how to fix it

Bright, funny, kind—but zero close friendships. Sits alone at lunch. Misses social cues, makes jokes that land wrong, can't read group dynamics. I watch them suffer and feel helpless.

Loneliness at 14 is devastating in ways adults can solve differently.

How do you support a lonely teen with social challenges? What actually helps vs. makes it worse?