Associates could make it fail-safe (10)

I believe the answer is:

affiliates

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'associates' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with social activities as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'make it fail-safe' is the wordplay.
'make' is an anagram indicator.
'it'+'fail'+'safe'='itfailsafe'
'itfailsafe' is an anagram of 'AFFILIATES'.

'could' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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