Social media platforms can make you feel quite lonely. Yes, we know how ridiculous this may sound, but it is true. You get to scroll through dozens, if not hundreds, of photos of people having fun and going on adventures with their friends while you spend the day at home or work. This is especially true if you have just moved into a new country and haven’t met anyone yet.

Well, luckily, the internet can help you with this endeavor. Nowadays, there are hundreds of websites you can sign up for and meet people who share your interests. You can communicate with someone from a faraway land, or on the other hand, you can choose to meet locals and make new friends.

1. PenpalPeople

How fun is it to have a pen pal? You know, someone from the other side of the world. A person who shares your interests, someone who can teach you about their country, culture, language, etc. Well, in the past, people would send letters and postcards to their pen pals, but today, this communication occurs in a virtual world.

All you have to do is visit penpalpeople.com, create an account, including information about yourself, and start looking for a friend. What we love about this platform is that individuals from all around the world join, so you can go with someone who lives in a country you would like to visit, or on the other note, find someone who is close by.

2. Nextdoor

We have already mentioned how difficult it can be to meet your new neighbors. Sure, some people don’t find this to be a challenge, but there are also those that are confident enough to go and knock on someone’s door and introduce themselves. Then, they wait to run into them in a store or parking lot. The thing is that this encounter can take some time, and you wouldn’t only miss meeting new people, but the chances are you would also miss entertainment events that bring the community together.

It is when this app comes in handy. No, it is not one of those apps where' you get to create a profile and scroll through accounts, but instead, it is more of a bulletin board of the neighborhood. People share news, ads, events, and so on. So, it is a great way to find your way in, learn about local events, and meet your neighbors in person.

3. Nearify

One of the best ways to meet new people is to go out and attend concerts, comedy shows, exhibitions, and the like. We understand that not everyone is a fan of online apps, but you will love this one. It will present you with a whole list of different types of events happening in your area. We are talking about everything from parties and concerts to theater and exhibitions.

You can also learn what events your friends liked, or on the other hand, create a list of the ones you find appealing. This isn’t a traditional website, but it can be great if you are looking for events to visit, have fun, and expand your circle of friends.

4. Meetup

If your goal is to join a group of people who share your interests, you should check out this app. Maybe you are looking for a book club, writing group, or a sports community. Whatever it is, the chances are that you will find it here.

Finding people who share your hobby can be quite challenging. Sure, you can discuss it with your friends, but do they want to join you? Oftentimes, this is not the case, and this platform will enable you to find like-minded individuals. If you are looking for a book club, there are no geographical limits for you. On the contrary, you can get in touch with people in your area, organize meetings, and have fun.

5. Friender

Friender is another app that you can use to meet people who share the same passions as you. Basically, this platform connects users through the answers they provide. When you create an account, you will have to fill a short survey, and the questions are mostly regarding the activities you enjoy. Then, the software will introduce you to other users that gave similar answers.

As you can assume, it is not a traditional swipe left or right app, but instead, it connects you with users that have listed at least one activity as you did. It is fairly easy to start a platonic relationship this way since you will almost immediately have something to talk about.

6. Hey! Vina

This platform is advertised as “Tinder for (girl) friends,” so it is exactly what it offers. The only thing it has in common with Tinder is the interface – you get to swipe left and right to choose girls you want to talk with, but that is pretty much it.

The app connects you with girls based on all the information you feed it, everything from interests to location and even age. Hey! Vina was created with the goal of empowering women through friendships, so it is another great platform if you are looking to find a pal in the new city.

7. Bumble BFF

Bumble BFF is another platform designed for girls exclusively, similarly to the previous one. If you have already used their dating app Bumble, then you know how everything works. You create a profile, add a few photos, write something about yourself, and start swiping.

It is a great platform if you are looking for platonic relationships and friends instead of a date. It can also be the right one for you if you are an introvert and find creating friendships a challenge.

Conclusion

All in all, these are currently the most popular platforms people use to expand their circle of friends. As you can imagine, each one of these has a specific set of features, so you should research them all a bit. Some of them are designed for introverts, while others are preferred by extroverts. Consider which group you belong and choose the platform accordingly.