Nowadays social engagement can be much fun online. Indeed, lots of platforms and applications give us so many opportunities for making friends all over the world. Besides, there are Live Video Chats for communication and sharing information in real-time.
Places to Find Friends
But where to look for new friends online? Should you start from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram that have already become an integral part of our lives? Well, first of all find an online social community or forum, which brings together people who share similar interests with you. This is the first step to success in making new interesting friends online.
Introducing Yourself
Step number two: share your own range of interests to faster get noticed by like-minded people. Fill out the ‘About me’ info sections with everything you think is important to engage with you (avoid providing personal information for security reasons). People will feel more comfortable to break the ice with you knowing they have the same interests and passions.
Simply Be Honest
The last but not the least peace of advice we can give you here is simple, but it works the same way as in real life. Be an honest and open-minded person, avoid being negative in what you post or say to someone online, and you will increase your social presence and engagement online even faster than you think!
Online communication can be very enjoyable… unlike being scammed on social media. This article has some useful tips on how to avoid it.
Don’t rush to click on links. It’s an old and well-known rule for interacting with strangers, but what about your friends? Would you click on the link sent by a friend without double-checking? Many people do so, only to find out that their friend’s account has been hacked. The best strategy is to check all links that end up in your inbox.
Don’t use links to access a social networking site. Sometimes such links pop up in emails or on other sites. Don’t use them! You may be taken to a phishing site where your credentials will be stolen to hack into your real account.
Be cautious of third party applications. Yes, they may come handy to boost your social profile, but you can’t be sure they’re not being run by scammers. The aim is to elicit your personal info and use it to scammers’ benefit. Always stay alert with such applications and check them as you would check the web download software.
Use different passwords for your accounts. Locking multiple accounts under one password is a very common mistake. It’s convenient, but you’re risking too much, as the scammer would gain access to all your accounts with a single password. Use different passwords – and make them good for more protection.
We hear at every turn that online friends can never substitute real-life friends. You know what? We strongly disagree. That’s why we compiled the top 6 reasons your online friends are as good as a pal next door.
1. Distance limits us in real life. You probably won’t meet someone great living 100 miles away from you, or even if you meet, you won’t have a chance to hang out a lot. Online you can meet dozens of people worldwide that can turn out to be your soulmates.
2. You can talk to your friends anytime. Your smartphone is always with you, so you may send jokes, tell an interesting story, or find support anytime you need it. For example, my online friend sends me the best memes ever and instantly improves my mood.
3. Your parties may be in pajamas, and everyone would feel comfortable. There is also a possibility of not hanging out together. Friends understand that you have your own life, so offense, you will chat later.
4. The level of trust between online friends is higher, and you can tell your deepest secrets with no fear. These people live far away and don’t contact your family, colleagues, or local friends. It’s a kind of online therapy, but cheaper.
5. Our world is crowded with funny, talented, and inspiring people. Thanks to the internet, you get a chance to meet them all.
Friendship is a blessing, and technologies make it even better.
Wrecking your head over how to talk to a potential friend? We’ve got you covered! Read the article below to learn about great ways to start a conversation. Your new friends are waiting…
Interest groups. Be sure to react to the group content. Leave a like or a comment to get noticed. No need to write an essay – a simple “Great!” or “Love it!” will do fine. Want to start a conversation right away? Ask a question! You’ll get noticed eventually; when this happens, use group meetups to get to know more people in real life. Or arrange one yourself at a local café…
Social media. It’s easy to find friends by following people with the same interests. Love biking? Travelling? Pets? Find others who share your passion, and you’ll already have something in common. No need to invent anything complex; a simple display that you’re interested will do just fine. “Hi, I’ve noticed you collect comic books. I have a huge collection myself! Care to chat about it?”
Social networking sites or apps. Another great way to find friends is to join a social networking site or install an app. Start by filling in your profile and then browse other people’s profiles to see if you have common interests – or matching personalities. Send out the first message to 6-10 people at least, as not everyone will be a really good match. “Hi there! Noticed we have lots of things in common. Care for a chat?”
These days many people search for new friends online. For many of them, starting a conversation is more convenient on the web than in real life. But how to build a long-lasting friendship online? We have some tips for you…
Don’t rush things. Let your relationship unfold naturally. If you’re both on social media, don’t shoot a person the first message 5 seconds after reading their profile. Sometimes following them for a few weeks (or even months!) is a better strategy. There are no time limits on starting conversations online.
Be honest and open. Yes, it’s tempting to tweak things a bit and appear slightly better than you really are. But keep in mind that any mask will fall off sooner or later, and you’ll cast a shadow on yourself. Instead, appear as you are, and your chances of finding a real friend will skyrocket. People out there want to meet the real you, not some ideal person.
Don’t intrude. If they’re not interested in you, it’s not the end of the world. Maybe you two don’t match – or maybe you remind them of someone they dislike… who knows? Other times, they take too long to answer because of work or other issues. Don’t take things too personally – and don’t demand their attention.
Plan things out. Looking out to meeting your new friend offline? Arrange the first meet-up in a public place to keep things safe.
Friendship improves our lives. As recent studies suggest, it can boost motivation and happiness, minimize stress and improve self-confidence. But how do you make real friends online? Follow our tips and make your journey to friendship a success.
Sign up at friend-making sites and apps. You could try reaching out to people on social media, but there’s no telling if a person there is in the mood to befriend anyone. To save your time and effort, join a friend-making site or download an app. They make it easy to find the right people thanks to the search and matching tools. Besides, you can be sure that other members are as keen on making new friends as you are!
Contact people with the same interests. You can PM everyone from your local area, of course, but it’s easier to connect over a common interest. Talking about the things you both love can be a great icebreaker. Don’t forget to list your interests and hobbies in your profile description so that other people could spot you too.
Start talking. When you’ve found people to befriend, it’s time to act! You can send them a direct request for friendship, but if you’d like to know them better first, begin by leaving comments under their posts or taking part in group discussions. Complimenting a person on something they’ve done or achieved, or asking a relevant question, can be a great conversation starter.