Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid To Use Social Media To Find More Connections
As adults, most of us find it difficult to make new friends. It feels like everyone has already established their friend group, and you don't want to impose. It's not like when we were kids and met our friends on the playground. Back then, we were less anxious about going up to someone and starting a conversation. It was like, "Hey, do you want to play tag?" and you immediately became best friends. Now, the closest thing we often get to making friends out of strangers is drunkenly complimenting each other in the bathroom at 1 a.m.
However, finding new friends is actually easier than you think, and you don't even need to leave the house to do it. You can totally use social media to connect with other people. It might seem awkward at first, but using the internet to find friends it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's a really great strategy for those who have social anxiety and are really afraid of sparking up a conversation in real life. It's okay to feel nervous about using social media to find more connections, but there are a few reasons why you shouldn't be afraid. Making friends this way is easier than you think and basically follows the same process you'd use to strike up conversation with a potential love interest.
It's easy to find people that share similar interests
One of the best parts about connecting with people online is there are several internet communities you can join to find others that share similar interests. This makes it easier to find new friends because common interests have the powerful ability to bring strangers together.
For example, become a member of a subreddit for a certain movie you love. There, you can connect with other people that are also fans of the movie. Maybe you really bond with another user and learn the two of you live in the same city, and decide to meet up. What's nice is you already have something to talk about, so it's less awkward when you finally meet in real life.
If you're really into SoulCycle, check out some TikToks in the cycling or workout community. Feel free to comment something that warrants an answer. You could ask if they have a favorite instructor, or what type of music really hypes them up during a session. Remember, you don't need to build up to a certain amount of friends. If you join a group of six people and become close with them all, great. But you're also allowed to have one or two close friends, too.
It's essentially the same as talking to potential partners
You chat with people you hope to have a romantic connection with, so what's the difference between that and messaging with potential friends? If you think about it, it's actually easier to make friends because the stakes are much lower. When you're searching for a potential partner online, half of your appeal relies on what you look like. On the other hand, when you're looking for new friends, you don't have to worry about them judging your appearance (and if they do, they aren't someone you want to be friends with).
Some dating apps give you the option to let others know you're interested in making friends, not dating. By selecting this feature, there's no confusion as to what you're looking for. Other users know what your goal is, and they want exactly the same thing. And hey, if you end up making a friend and it turns into something more, that's an added bonus. Otherwise, dating apps with "friends only" features make it even easier to find new friends using technology.