Friendship apps and websites to meet new people
Back in the early days of school, it used to be that making new friends was as easy as ABC. As an adult it can be hard to find people that really “get” you or knowing how to even start — busy schedules, the fear of rejection, especially if you find talking to new people difficult.
If you’ve moved to a new town or city, making new friends in your local area is an important part of helping you settle in and thrive in your new life. Many of us forge lasting friendships through our jobs, but with so many companies offering full time work-from-home options, this is another strong friend-building route at risk.
Platonic relationships can be so important. Just like dating apps have helped to solve the dilemma of finding love in the digital age, apps to make friends are working to fill another void.
If you’re looking for a new girl friend to get coffee with on the weekends, try a female-focussed app like Bumble BFF or “Tinder for girlfriends” Hey! VINA where, once you match, the app suggests a spot to meet, like a hiking trail or a wine bar. It’s all about building a community of trusted new female friends!
Avid readers can get an online book club started with like-minded people around the world using Skout. Or, take a quick survey on the app Friender to help match you with a potential new BFF.
If the thought of meeting up one-to-one up with someone new and running out of conversation brings you out in hives or you prefer expand your network in a more natural way, in-person rather than ‘matching’ and spending hours chatting online, try real-world events & community site Citysocializer to join small groups of people doing something fun. Or Meetup that matches you with groups of people based on a shared interests from the general (Free Comedy and Bar Hoppers) to niche (Knitting Ladies and Dog Lovers), and you can search by demographic, so you don’t end up at a nightclub with a bunch of 20-somethings — unless you want to!
If you like to take your time getting to know new people before jumping into a friendship, Yubo might be for you. Yubo is a social live-streaming platform that lets you swipe to find new friends, chat with them in the app, hang out in shared livestreams, and explore different interest groups.
Or if hours of online chatting or texting isn’t your thing, give LMK a try. With LMK, you can share voice messages and join talk-based Audio Room conversations with multiple people. With LMK, you can also even watch YouTube videos together as a shared experience.
If you’re a parent, and you’d like a social life that’s on par with your kids’ calendars, try Peanut, an app created with mamas in mind. An easy way to meet mum friends, seek parenting advice, the app suggests women with similar-age children in your area with the familiar swiping method.
And if using apps and sites aren’t for you, you can always try the more traditional tried and tested ways to meet new people. The main thing to remember is that there are so many people searching for new friends, all it takes is some effort and you’ll find your ride or die crew in no time!
