How do you maintain / make friendships?

I’d say I keep to myself a lot and talk to people in person, but I struggle with maintaining and keeping in contact with friends when I’m not face to face with them. Like, what do you even text? How do you text? I feel like I always end up saying “What are you doing?” Or I feel like we’re not close enough or just end up talking about school. How often do people text outside of school?

How do you even know what stage of friendship you’re at, and how do you create a deeper connection with friends? I feel like I’m trapped outside a bubble of people who are all connected. Like I’m friendly with people but I always see them hanging out with other people outside of school. Even other quiet people getting invited to things.

I’m about to start university, and I really want to make friendships where I feel comfortable and not just pretending to be happy or being polite just to stay friends or things it just being awkward. I feel like I haven’t had to do this since in secondary school I was pretty much around all the same people, so I was familiar with them but not super close. How do I make that kind of friendship, and how do I keep it going outside of school? Like getting invited to things and whatnot.

Whenever I try to make friends, I feel like I also gravitate quiet people, which limits the amount of socializing as well if I just stick with them.

Sorry if it’s a bit ranty. Would appreciate any suggestions!