Friends.. or just acquaintances

Growing up in society you constantly told that making friends is important and you must pick them carefully. So as you go through life you pick up alot of friends and some of them stick with you through your long journey but most fall by the way side. going on to follow their own paths.
Is friendship that important. do they not harm your individual existence. I mean in this country especially after you get into a click of friends they expect you too conform to the group standard. True you became part of the group because you did conform , but times change and so do people right. I say this because I noticed my friends doing the same thing. they want you to do this and that and they have fun but too you its just a lame exercise ..
I understand doing things as a group but it thought groups of friends were suppose to understand each other and relate to each other. So it seems to me that people who call themselves friends but take away from your individuality are not friends but acquaintances.
Maybe in life we never really have friends or maybe we just have a few true friends who we truly relate too. or maybe i'm just anti-social and dysfunctional and have got it all wrong.
What do you think.