Can meetup apps help us make friends?

Amy Rae, a 29-year-old woman from Canada, has been living in Swansea, Wales, and has found it challenging to make new friends. While she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, who is studying in Wales, she often feels frustrated by the lack of social connections. To document her journey of meeting new people, Amy began posting videos on TikTok. One of her videos went viral, resonating with many young people who shared similar feelings of loneliness. In her video, she humorously described her experiences, including a visit to an art class where she was surrounded by older women and struggled to connect with anyone. This sparked a wave of comments from viewers expressing their own struggles with making friends. Realizing she was not alone, Amy decided to create a Facebook group for individuals facing the same challenges. The group has since grown to thousands of members, all eager to connect and support one another. In addition to Amy's efforts, there are various apps designed specifically for making friends, such as Bumble BFF and Meetup. These platforms are gaining popularity as more people seek to expand their social circles. Professor Andrea Wigfield, who leads the Centre for Loneliness Studies at the University of Sheffield, believes that these apps could become as common as dating apps. She points out that while people can connect with many individuals online, it is essential to form meaningful relationships to combat feelings of loneliness. In the UK, a significant percentage of adults reported experiencing loneliness, with young people often lacking the confidence to initiate conversations and build friendships. Swathi Padmanabhan, a 25-year-old who also lives in Swansea, joined Amy's Facebook group after moving to the area and struggling to meet new people. She expressed how the group has transformed her social life, stating, 'I didn't know anyone when I moved here, but now I've got an amazing group of people. ' Working from home can be isolating, and Swathi highlighted the importance of having friends to engage with outside of work. Research shows that a large number of lonely young people feel their self-confidence diminishes due to their isolation. For Amy, the online friendships she has formed have provided her with a sense of belonging in her new community. She understands that many people experience loneliness, especially during the dreary weather in Wales. It is uplifting to see individuals stepping out of their comfort zones and making connections with others.