Online platforms can invite a diverse mix of connections that turn into lifelong friendships.
We can all agree: The older we get, the smaller our friend groups become. Between perpetually busy schedules, reduced opportunities, and the recent pandemic disrupting our social skills, making (and maintaining) friends as an adult has never been more challenging.
As social creatures, friendships are crucial for adults as they enhance overall well-being. They provide emotional support, reduce stress, and improve our mental health. The best of these interactions help to boost self-esteem, foster personal growth, and increase resilience — all contributing to longer, happier lives.
So where are people finding friends these days? The answer: Online.
While some may still view it as a stigma, many are discovering that digital platforms can be a great way to socialise — if you approach it the right way.
To do so, it’s important to understand that things are a little different online. Whether it’s a website or an app, signing up knowing its purpose and demographic can set more realistic expectations and healthier interactions. With that, the right mindset will kickstart your way in making good connections.
The adage, “It’s not the tool, but how you use it”, rings true here. While people often view social applications unfavourably, it is really because of unclear boundaries and bad players in the scene that have made the digital space unsafe.
Today, people are a lot savvier and more safeguards are in place. Many have come to enjoy the perks of using online platforms to make friends. First off, it’s extremely convenient, allowing users to easily meet new people from the comfort of their homes. Secondly, the borderless nature means you can connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures. As apps mature, you now have features that help you locate friends with similar hobbies and interests and filter out scammers with in-built security measures.
That said, some concerns still lurk. Despite verifications, there will always be some level of misrepresentation online, with some users not being genuine. As we interact, there’s also the risk of revealing too much, especially when we share personal details. Found a connection but the other party is not as active as you hoped they would be? This can become common as most people don’t make these apps their priority. And then there’s always the danger that too little face-to-face interactions will erode our soft skills.
Thankfully, there are ways to navigate these unwanted side effects. Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned user, if you’re thinking of converting these online friendships into real-life connections, these tips may help you foster better outcomes:
An app that combines travel planning with a social aspect, Travel Buddy has four million users around the globe, and connects them by their interests. Find travel partners for your trips and get introduced to tour recommendations and friends at the same time.
Unique features: Gain inspiration from searching for other shared itineraries and connect with locals to get the best tips.
Pros: Great for meeting people with similar travel interests, especially if you’re thinking of travelling solo.
Cons: Can be less effective for those not interested in travel.
Picking up a new language can be challenging — unless you have a friend to learn it from! HelloTalk is a language exchange app that connects you with native speakers from over 150 languages, helping you build friendships while you learn.
Unique features: Overcome initial language hurdles with intuitive language support. Use the multiple chat modes to chat in your preferred way, including a video mode to help you with pronunciation. Post your personal moments to introduce yourself to various communities.
Pros: Great for learning a language with fellow enthusiasts, and meeting people around the world.
Cons: Possible awkward moments when there’s difficulty or mistakes in translations.
They say three’s a crowd, but not on this app. We3 matches users based on their interests and preferences and sets them up in friend groups of three to make meetings safer and less stressful.
Unique features: Creates a quiz to uniquely offer squad-based friend-matching. There’s no public profile and you can set invisible mode on for existing friends, so your privacy is doubly ensured.
Pros: A thoughtful and safe environment to make friends with similar interests.
Cons: There’s always a possibility that the other two connect better and you become the odd one out.
Singaporeans love food and the Dine Inn platform taps into this shared passion by linking home chefs and diners looking for a fresh experience with home-based culinary events.
Unique features: Links food makers and lovers together through a home cooking experience at the chef’s place.
Pros: The novel and intimate environment coupled with the home-cooked food are great conversation topics to base the meeting on.
Cons: Requires additional effort to organise future meetups and maintain the friendship.
Meetup is a platform and app used to connect people through participation in events. Its extensive listing of activities offers variety, with thematic friend-making events to ease the process.
Unique features: There are varying open and closed group discussions to offer different levels of privacy, and you can enjoy a tailored event calendar based on your interests. The established platform has a global presence so you can use it anywhere in the world.
Pros: Great for easily finding people who are passionate about the same things as you. Offers a variety of groups and activities to suit your personality.
Cons: Sometimes it can be a bit too much. The wide variety can overwhelm some people, and the friendships formed at one event may be hard to maintain outside of it.
Originally a popular dating app, Bumble BFF adds a new facet by offering the same features to those who want to make friends by matching you with the best person according to your situation and preferences.
Unique features: Show off your personality visually with interest badges. Time-limited matches mean you only form more genuine connections. Safety is a priority as it provides protection for women by having them lead initiation for conversations.
Pros: The familiar format is easy to use, and it taps into an existing large user base to increase your chances of finding matches.
Cons: There’s a possibility that you’ll meet with people who misrepresent themselves and are seeking out dates instead.
Now that you know the rules and the tools, the final step is approaching it with the right attitude. Here are some extra tips to make you a pro at making friends online:
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