Get Outside Your Bubble: Make New Friends

Get Outside Your Bubble: Make New Friends

Raise your hand if you find it tough to make friends. If your arm rose faster than you drink your morning coffee, know that you’re not alone. A recent survey reveals that 70% of adults find it tough to make new besties. So, when Lindsey Thompson first started the Facebook group Louisville Women Connect, she knew she wanted a space for genuine connection. “I started the week the pandemic hit,” Lindsey begins, “then I posted every day for about a year.” She had no idea the momentum the group would gain and Louisville Women Connect now boasts more than 800 members. If you’re feeling ready to “like” a new friend group but aren’t sure how to begin, why not try some online platforms and apps to find people who share your common interests?

Louisville Women Connect is passionate about creating a place for its members to build genuine friendships. Meeting in this virtual space allows its members to get to know each other in a no-pressure way and then search out interesting inperson events. Rosa Hart, the host of The Lou Review podcast, is a group administrator for Louisville Women Connect and she says, “This is a club of people who are here for forming authentic connections.” With 30 different events last month alone, the group is providing these diverse opportunities for connection to commence.

70% OF ADULTS FIND IT TOUGH TO MAKE NEW BESTIES.

Finding your tribe can improve your happiness, provide a sense of purpose, and offer support when needed, according to the website Psychology Today. When Amy Silverman, founder of The Connection Movement, wanted to locate kindred spirits of her own, she used the app, Meetup. Amy says her original purpose in trying out Meetup was to network professionally, but after joining various groups in her area, she began making friends. That’s when she decided to host her own group. “My intention was to build deep connections and feel a sense of community with like-minded people,” she says. Amy created a crew that met every Monday for seven years. “There were people who floated in and out, but hundreds and hundreds came through,” she says.

You should know that many friendship apps out there facilitate “the friendship making.” For example, Nextdoor is a private social networking app that encourages people in neighborhoods to connect and Atleto matches you with a compatible workout buddy. Both are super specialized, free, and ready to use on your preferred device.

MY INTENTION WAS TO BUILD DEEP CONNECTIONS AND FEEL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.

– AMY SILVERMAN

Online Meeting Apps To Try

1. Facebook Groups: With over 1.8 billion people using Facebook Groups every month, you’ll be able to find “your people” with the greatest of ease. Facebook holds this space for people to communicate interests and you can join (or create) groups for book clubs, hiking quests, or even your long-lost fourth grade math club. The Facebook Help Center is, well…helpful in answering any and all questions you may have, but you must have a Facebook profile before beginning your new social-butterfly adventure. If you don’t have an account, go to facebook.com/reg and follow the prompts to get started.

When you’re ready to join a pre-existing group, log in to your Facebook account and enter your interest in the search box on the top left. Scroll through the results and when you find one that intrigues you, click the “join” button associated with that group. Rosa recommends joining with the intention of being there for one another. It is this attitude that has allowed deeper friendships to form. 2. Meetup: This app was founded in 2002 and has over 50 million members and 100,000 events going on every week. Once you’ve signed in, Meetup will ask you questions about your interests and pair you with potential groups. Amy assures that the app is simple to navigate, and if you’re looking to expand your inner circle of friends, it’s a wonderful way to connect with those in your immediate area. Amy adds that you’ll be allowed to choose your location and the radius you’d feel most comfortable maintaining your social circle.

If you’d like to look for new and exciting groups on your own, log into your account and go to the homepage to search for a group. Depending on the group’s setting, you’ll either be added immediately or once the organizer approves your request. 3. Eventbrite: This is an independent platform for joining or hosting events in your local area. You can search based on location or subject and even choose to host an event yourself. At eventbrite.com, you can check out trending categories or scroll through events or groups in your area. With classes and weekend events, plus food and music goings-on listed, you’ll be able to get an overview of the activities you’d like to join to help find your new BFF crew.

If you feel called to start a group of your own, Lindsey and Amy both agree Facebook and Meetup make it simple. To create a successful group, Lindsey encourages you to be consistent with your engagement and “have a lane and intent” with the type of group you’re creating. Amy says Meetup makes it easy to host and her pro tip is this: Have an event already in mind when starting. People get that email or notification that says, “There’s a new group!” And they may join, but if you don’t have an event already posted, you’re not exactly seizing on the opportunity.

When talking about the process of making new friends, Amy says shared interests and activities are what connect and encourage new relationships to develop. “Having that interest in common can be so helpful,” Amy offers. This type of group setting can provide a stress-free first step in meeting new people. Then over time, as Lindsey points out, she has grown very close to members of her group and formed many good, solid friendships. Finding a new group of friends can infuse your life with new inspiration and offer support when you need it. And in the end, Rosa says she loves being part of a diverse group such as this because “we do learn from each other.”

By Tonilyn Hornung

Fall 2022 / TodaysTransitions.com