How to make your friends not insult you during jokes in college

I hang out with a group of friends who joke around a lot — typical roasting, pulling each other's legs, etc. I don’t mind light-hearted fun. But lately, it's started to feel off.

Even though I genuinely care for them and help them out whenever they need something, they still use harsh words with me during these "joking" moments. They make fun of personal stuff — my skin tone, the fact that I don’t have a girlfriend, and other insecurities.

So I’m wondering:

How do you draw a line while keeping the bond strong?

How do you earn more respect in such a group so they think twice before crossing lines?

Any tips on clapping back smartly or using humor without sounding hurt or forced?

And most importantly — how do you mentally detach so their words don’t dig too deep?

I’m not trying to cut them off or be dramatic — just want to feel valued in the group instead of always being the easy target.

Appreciate any insights. Thanks.