The You’re Worth Knowing newsletter is where we practice being cringe over beige in real time. As for me, I have several new friends now because I’ve opened up my realm of possibilities. For most of us with social anxiety, this can lead to nightly rumination sessions. You’re having a discussion/conversation, but it’s on each other’s terms and timelines. This means that you’re not placed on the spot to react or reply immediately, as the case would be when you’re face-to-face with someone. You can take your time to think about what you want to respond with and have more control over the conversation.
Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach. Once you’re in these communities or groups, you need to find a way to break the ice. You won’t make friends online unless you make your presence known.
I spent my weekends binge-watching vlogs from small creators my age, and trying my best to tailor witty responses in the comment sections. Though my parents were wary of me talking to people on the internet (and for good reason), all I really wanted was to connect with people I seemed to have so much in common with. I wanted to make friends who thought like me and had the same emotional capacity as me—something I found extremely hard to find at my own high school. When you join a social media group or group online, start to be active in the group.
Instead of curating a highlight reel, share something honest in your bio or message—what excites you, what brought you here, and what kind of connection you’re craving. Creating space to meet people in person and make new friends as we move from one place to another becomes increasingly challenging — which is why we’re here to help. One of the things remote workers miss most about office life isn’t the meetings — it’s the low-level ambient presence of other people working nearby. Behavioral researchers call the practice of working alongside someone else “body doubling,” and it reliably improves focus and reduces the sensation of isolation. Join a curated SureSpace meetup and meet people who share your interests, in person, not just online.
The funny thing is that some people are so undecided; they end up not being able to officially join until much later. SocialSelf works together with psychologists and doctors to provide actionable, well-researched and accurate information that helps readers improve their social lives. After your first message, they’ll respond if they think you match too, and it should be relatively straightforward to set up a meeting after that. Not everyone will say yes, but some people would love to meet up with someone like-minded.
- Into motorbikes, running, shooting, football, gaming, history, random facts about random things and strange phenomena.
- How do you meet new people when life is busy, when you need a change, or when you move to a new city?
- While some connections may fizzle out, others may blossom into strong friendships.
Into motorbikes, running, shooting, football, gaming, history, random facts about random things and strange phenomena. Humans increasingly depend on the internet for day-to-day necessities. According to a global Gallup study, Americans are among the most mobile humans on Earth. Nearly 25% of Americans have moved cities in the last five years, often for education, work, or a simple change of scenery. Because we’re constantly moving, we’re often forced to leave our social circles behind.
If you and someone really see the friendship sparks starting to fly, you can DM and add them to your friend list. Remember, making online friends is about quality, not just how many you have. Work on building real connections, listen well, and give back to your friends. This way, you’ll make virtual relationships that make you happier and add to your life in big ways. BeFriend‘s biggest highlight is its ability to enable users to discover new friends nearby and connect immediately.
But finding potential friends and talking to people online isn’t always straightforward. You may struggle to think of things to say, or you have trouble picking the right site or app. In this article, you’ll learn how to meet like-minded people who are also looking for new friends.
With the wide variety of platforms to make friends online, you’ll want to choose one that aligns with your goals. For starters, there are two types of online platforms to consider — reciprocal and nonreciprocal. When you attend a traditional on-campus school, you will make friends in class, study halls, and at on-campus events. But when you attend an online college, you will need to try new methods to build friendships. Connection often starts with being real rather than impressive.
This is great for allowing people to keep up with celebrities and political figures, but they might not be so useful for someone who is looking to develop meaningful friendships. Making friends online has become a normal part of everyday life. Maybe you have moved to a new city, maybe you work remotely, or maybe you simply want to widen your circle.
Bumble Bff
Consider starting with a virtual coffee date or facetime to ease into the transition. When meeting in person, choose public locations and make sure to inform a friend or family member of your plans. Protect your personal information and trust your instincts throughout the process. It’s important to prioritize your safety and well-being when taking online connections offline. Virtual reality lets you make friends and hang out with people in a virtual world. It’s great for anyone, but especially if you live in a small town, feel like you don’t fit in, get nervous around others, or are an introvert trying to meet other introverts and make friends.
Why Teens & Young Adults Are Turning To Online Friendships
It’s easy to make it look like you’re someone you’re not on social media, but this is especially not helpful if you’re trying to make friendships that last. Being your authentic self online will actually help you attract more people who are like you. Similar interests, sense of humor, and even taste in fashion are just a few things that have led me to some pretty cool people online. These authentic points of common interest are often what leads to a connection in the long run. Just like any friendship, building online friendships takes time, so it’s important to be patient. Keep in mind that the effort you put into the relationship will directly impact what you get out of it, so make sure to engage many times and avoid just lurking in the background actively.
Conversations naturally flow from there, so all you need to do now is keep the momentum going. The great thing about online socials, however, is that there is no pressure for you to keep engaging. You don’t need to chime in on every little comment you find on there. It’s okay too to simply observe and follow the conversation. That way, you’re also learning more about the people that’re in the same community as you.
Compassion and understanding are vital for lasting connections online. In May, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory about a national epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Ever since I was a teenager, the internet has been a place I’ve turned to for connection and community. You can make friends across the world, and they can end up being the best friend that you’ve ever had. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you – because trust me, when you meet the right person, you’ll immediately know what connecting means.
Making friends online is a great and convenient way for you to expand your network. It allows you to meet different kinds of people from all over the world, and can also help you break out of your shell and expand your interests. Do you think it works well in highlighting the best version? Is it quirky, does it look friendly, or is it weird or cryptic? Since you want to reach out to others online, try to also think about what they would think if they see your profile picture.
For example, if your friend replies with a few sentences and you reply with a long essay, your friend might feel overwhelmed. It demands a lot for them to reply thoughtfully, which they might not have the time or energy for, making them avoid you or try to cut the conversation short. It can often be better to step back and not push the issue.
Devote your energy to a conversation with someone who actually wants to talk to you. Figuring out what you’re looking for will help funnel your energy into the appropriate online spaces. These emotions and states of being are connected to several health problems like diabetes, heart issues, and insomnia. Researchers at Harvard have found that happiness is a collective phenomenon. Surrounding ourselves with friends with cheery dispositions is our best weapon to combat feelings of isolation, depression, and loneliness. If your friend group is spread across devices and platforms, check which games offer cross-platform play — most newer titles do.
Personally, I’ve made many business friends through interactions on these platforms, sparking conversations that have continued in the DMs. Additionally, engaging with other followers in the comments can also be a way to connect. Starting a fun conversation, sending a DM, sharing other pages or resources related to your interests, or even organizing virtual hangouts can all help foster new connections. Remember, behind every social media account is a real person, so don’t hesitate to reach out and start a conversation.
In 2017, Desjarlais and Joseph surveyed 212 young adults about how they interacted with people online and the quality of their online friendships. In the end, making friends online takes a little patience, a little openness, and a pinch of caution. Whether you start with an interest community, a live chat room, a friendship app, or an AI companion, what matters is taking one small step and beginning the conversation. Within each of these categories, there are tons of groups based in your area that host events, both in-person and online. Being in a group of people with a shared interest is great, but for making friends, being in a group like that that holds regular events is even better. But if you live in different areas, you can’t easily meet up or hang out in person.
When you plan to meet an online friend for the first time, be careful. Choose a public place, tell friends or family, and watch for any bad feelings. By being kind and compassionate online, you can make real, rewarding digital friendships.
But it does not replace real human relationships or professional support. If you are struggling, a qualified professional is the right person to turn to. But in 2026, with the right approach and platforms, it’s more possible than ever. This guide will show you exactly how to make friends Talkliv review online – and keep them. If you can’t find a server that speaks to you, creating your own is quick and easy. Plus, you can adjust filters and limit how many friends you’ll accept, so you’ll never have to feel buried under too many letters to write.
Friendship is a spectrum, and we hang out with our friends in all sorts of contexts (Check out my Wheel of Connection to learn more). Some friends are limited to specific environments like work or church, while others are present in multiple areas of our lives. Online friends, although initially only connected through the internet, have the potential to grow into offline friendships or be integrated into other online communities we engage with. The beauty of friendships lies in the ability to connect with others regardless of the platform or medium, ultimately enriching our social experiences.
That way, your potential friend who doesn’t want to meet up right now won’t feel pressured into meeting with you. You never want someone to feel pressured to be with you because then they’ll start associating you with that bad feeling of neediness and desperation. It’s a lot easier to get to know someone when it’s just the two of you.
Don’t pressure them into joining you for a video chat if they’re not ready for that step. Remember, you each have your own levels of comfort and confidence, even online. Rather, respect their boundaries too just as much as you would like them to respect yours. They don’t have to be online all the time, and neither should they be expected to reply to your messages immediately. In fact, you should also try to manage the frequency of your messages with them.
When aiming to make new friends, it is crucial to be specific about the type of people you want to connect with. Simply saying, “I want a new friend,” can lead to frustration when trying to find meaningful friendships. Just like when you go to the grocery store hungry and without a plan, you may wander around, unsure what to buy. By reflecting on these aspects, you can pinpoint the people you want to meet and stand out in a crowd of potential friends. You can find friends online through platforms like Meetup, Facebook groups, or Reddit communities focused on your interests.
For those with social anxiety, the best first step to navigating social situations is to make friends online and progress from there. Moreover, transitioning from an online friendship to an in-person relationship poses its own set of challenges that may require careful navigation by both parties involved. There have been a few times where I’d planned to meet with someone, but felt weird about the whole thing leading up to it. If you’re ever feeling uneasy about an encounter with someone, it’s more than okay to cancel plans. Remember, you’re not obligated to say yes to hanging out with someone, or even following through on plans you’ve made with a person. To this day, I am still good friends with some of those once-awkward teenagers fumbling their way through the internet.
Remote and hybrid work didn’t end the need for human connection — it just moved it online permanently. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, 25% of fully remote employees feel lonely on a given day, compared to 16% of on-site workers. And a June 2026 study in Science tracking 588,322 Americans found that remote work has quadrupled since the pandemic — along with a measurable rise in time spent without any human contact. To make friends online, you need to have an online profile.
