How to Connect with People and Make Friends In the Internet Age

The internet is all about making connections, whether that’s with an employer, a school, or with another person. Still, some people struggle when it comes to connecting with people online. This could be because people are unaware of the social media sites that best suit their personalities and interests or because people are simply unfamiliar with the art of connecting with others once they’re on the sites. Regardless of how awkward or quirky you may be, there’s a site, app, or group for you.

Facebook

Facebook is the elephant in the room when it comes to social media sites. As of 2021, it’s the largest player in the game and seemingly enjoyed by everyone from children to their grandparents. Yet, Facebook has a reputation of being more for an older crowd. In fact, data show that Facebook is waning in popularity among teens.

But it’s fair to say it’s still pretty popular with adults. What’s great about Facebook is the variety of user groups available. Whether you’re someone who’s into knitting or bowling, there are likely multiple Facebook Groups that will cater to your tastes. 

Meetup

Meetup is a social networking site that takes the Facebook model one step farther. Instead of simply sharing information with people online, the goal of Meetup is to actually build communities where people can socialize. Sometimes Meetup groups are for people who love playing volleyball or cycling. There are Meetup book clubs for people who love Tolstoy and recovery meetups. The sky really is the limit.

And if your goal is really to meet people in person, but you can’t find a Meetup group that caters to your particular tastes, you can always create your own meetup. Meetups are a great way to get to know people in your community with similar interests.

Usenet

You may not even have heard of Usenet, but it’s another great way to connect with people who have interests similar to yours. Usenet is a communications platform with discussion groups, forums, and online bulletin boards. Although it’s not to be confused with the web, it’s similar to it and a lot more private and secure.

Usenet is broken up into newsgroups or categories related to topics such as science, computers, and a bunch of others. In fact, there are over 100,000 newsgroups, although all are not active. If you want to get on the network you’ll have to connect with a Usenet service provider. One of the great things about Usenet is the diversity of groups. No matter how eccentric you are, you’ll likely find a home there.

Tinder

If you’re looking for more than just a friend, you have plenty of options there too. Tinder is one of the most popular dating apps around. And although it often gets a bad rap, there are many examples of people who’ve actually gotten married after meeting on Tinder. And because it’s so popular, you’re likely to find someone in your area who’s on the app even if you’re not in a major city.

Although Tinder is primarily known for connecting people in a romantic way, there are also people who’ve walked away with meaningful friendships. Still, if your goal is to make friends and romance is the farthest thing from your mind, you might want to stay away from a dating app.

Friender

If you don’t want there to be any confusion about your friend zone intentions, you might want to check out Friender. Friender bills itself as a “friends only” app where the goal is to connect with people who have similar interests. After creating your account, you’re given a list of more than 100 activities and interests. Friender will then help you meet people nearby with the goal of creating real connections.

Wrapping Things Up

Most people feel like having friends makes their lives richer, but sometimes it’s hard for us to know how to go about making friends. There are many apps that can at least help you find people in your community who share your interests. The biggest hurdle might be putting yourself out there in the digital world. Although establishing close friendships is not the easiest thing to do, it is possible if we make an effort.