Making friends after your teens is hard. There, we said it. It is officially out in the open. Gone are the days when you make your best friend(s) by simply being in the same class, or sports clubs. Making friends in adulthood can be really tough, especially when you’re already trying to juggle your job, finances, hobbies, family life, passions etc etc. In comes, the opportunity of making friends online. We all know someone who’s turned to technology to find romantic relationships, so perhaps you’re wondering if it’s just as successful for finding platonic ones? Spoiler alert: It is. In this article we’re going to explore how to make friends online – not dating edition!
Benefits of making friends online
Shared interests
Ever felt like the odd one out in past friendship groups you may have been in? Fear not, online friendships are your golden ticket to finding your tribe. Joining specific forums and groups allows you to connect with people who appreciate the same things you do, whether it’s discussing the latest sci-fi theories or sharing vegan recipes. It’s an avenue to discover communities tailored to your interests and form connections that resonate with your lifestyle.
Accessibility and diversity
Making friends online really opens up opportunities to connect with people from a range of places. You’re not limited to connecting with people in your area; instead, you can reach out to individuals from various parts of the globe! broaden your social circle in ways that traditional friendships might not. This is a great first step of making friends online if you don’t want a physical friendship.
Platforms for making friends online
Fortunately, if you’re not having much luck making friends IRL, there are tonnes of platforms we can turn to. In this section we’re going to look at different channels on social media, as well as looking at apps.
Social Media
We all know we can connect with friends on social media, but you can also connect with strangers who have the potential to become friends. For example, there are a plethora of Facebook groups depending on your interests. If you enjoy travelling and are looking to make adventurous friends, check out The Travel Squad. Similarly, if you’ve just graduated from university and are feeling in a void, join Gals Who.
The point we’re trying to drive home is that there is a community for everyone, you just have to be open enough to explore it!
If you’re stuck for ideas on where to get started, you can find groups/communities for:
- Travelling
- Book clubs
- Arts & crafts
- Fitness
- Entrepreneurship
- Cooking and foodies
- Sports enthusiats
- Tech and gadgets
- DIY home improvements
- Photography
App to Meet Friends in your Area
Now for the bit you’ve likely been waiting for. If you’ve got a smart phone, you’re in luck. We’re going to share 9 friendship apps that you can download, today. These range from allowing you to meet friends online in your area, or to even meet foreign friends online.
Bumble BFF, an extension of the popular dating app, allows you to make platonic connections based on your interests and location. Perfect if you want to meet up IRL.
2. Meetup:
Connecting people through local events and gatherings, Meetup is perfect for those eager to expand their social circles with like-minded individuals in their community.
3. Yubo:
Yubo is your live social discovery app. Here you can chat via live video from the app, so no need to worry about getting cat fished!
4. Communia:
This mindful social network for women is dedicated to curation, connection and support.
5. Friender:
Utilising a swipe feature reminiscent of dating apps, Friender focuses on connecting you based on shared interests and activities.
6. Peanut:
This is a brilliant platform if you are a mom or soon-to-be one. Peanut is aimed at connecting moms with similar lifestyles, to find and build meaningful friendships.
7. Atleto:
For all the sports enthusiasts, if you’re looking for a new gym buddy or someone to play tennis with, look no further. This encourages you to get out and to stay active. Its a win-win!
8. Hey! Vina:
This app is specifically for women looking to make female friendships, where you will be matched based on your interests or stages in life.
9. Bloom:
On Bloom Community, you can connect organically with burner, queer, artist, creative, polyamorous, wellness, kink, conscious, spiritual, and alternative communities through meaningful shared experiences.
Closing: How to make friends online – not dating edition
So there we have it. We hope this article gave you some ideas of how to meet new friends online. Forming new friendships can be hard – particularly in adulthood – but you should be in a clearer position on how to make friends online. There are a vast variety of options from joining social media groups, participating in forums or testing your luck with the apps. Give it a go and don’t give up if you don’t find your bestie first time round. It’s a process and believe it or not, you’ll learn more about yourself when going through this too.
So set some time aside and get going.
Happy friend seeking!