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New in town or a life-long local, here are 5 easy ways to make new friends: Video

Cody Godwin   Paste BN
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Meeting new people and building connections is one of the many joys in life. However, putting yourself out there can be daunting and anxiety-inducing. Striking up a conversation with someone at a coffee shop looks easy on TV, but in unscripted reality, it can be challenging. 

Americans are suffering from a loneliness epidemic, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned in 2023. “Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling,” he told Paste BN. “Loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.”

Many people are feeling the impact of loneliness and are seeking to connect with more people, whether they're new to an area or looking to expand their social circle. If that also sounds like you, keep reading for some easy ways to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.

Watch this video to see how apps and social media can help you meet new people. 

How to make friends

One of the challenges of meeting new people is committing to doing so. Making plans to hang out and then actually following through with them. Thankfully, the platforms that connect new people tend to handle the logistics, so you just have to show up at the designated time and place. 

  • Check Instagram.

There are Instagram accounts dedicated to helping people connect. They can be geared towards making new friends, like atl friends, or connect you to people with similar hobbies or interests, like atlsilentbookclub or BLKHikingclub.

If you’re scrolling on Instagram and see a page that fits what you’re looking for, look at the similar accounts Instagram recommends. There, you may find more opportunities for socializing to explore.

  • Have dinner with strangers.

This might sound like a nightmare to some people, but having dinner with a group of strangers, all looking to make new friends, is a thing! 

Apps like Timeleft will match you with a small group of people and will coordinate a dinner for everyone to get together. The app asks you questions and then pairs you with compatible dinner companions. It sets a time and place to meet and even provides some icebreakers in case the conversation lulls. If things go well, it will also suggest a place to go after dinner if people want to continue hanging out. 

The app is currently in select cities and does require a subscription, which does not cover the cost of dinner. 

  • Try Bumble.

If one-on-one is more your style, try Bumble. The dating app has two ways to help you make friends: using the Bumble BFF mode in the dating app or using their friend-specific app Bumble For Friends. 

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  • See what is planned on Meetup. 

Meetup is a very popular platform that lists events happening in your area designed to help you connect with new people. They have a variety of events and interests, so you can choose something you’re an expert at or explore something new.

Plus, you can choose between online and in-person meetups. 

  • Befriend your fellow Redditors.

Some city-specific Reddit pages have event or meetup threads that can help you connect with new people. Essentially, you leave a comment, set a time and place for people to gather, post, and hope people join! 

Some of these options might only be available in bigger cities, so if you live in a smaller town, consider looking at events on Facebook or on apps like Nextdoor for opportunities to meet new people.

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