New in town or a life-long local, here are 5 easy ways to make new friends: Video
New in town or a life-long local, here are 5 easy ways to make new friends: Video
Show Caption
Hide Caption
How to make new friends using Reddit, Instagram, more
These apps can help you meet new friends in your area.
Problem Solved
Meeting new people and building connections is one of the many joys in life. However, putting yourself out there can be daunting and anxiety-inducing. Striking up a conversation with someone at a coffee shop looks easy on TV, but in unscripted reality, it can be challenging.
Americans are suffering from a loneliness epidemic, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned in 2023. 'Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling,' he told USA TODAY. 'Loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.'
Many people are feeling the impact of loneliness and are seeking to connect with more people, whether they're new to an area or looking to expand their social circle. If that also sounds like you, keep reading for some easy ways to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.
Watch this video to see how apps and social media can help you meet new people.
How to make friends
One of the challenges of meeting new people is committing to doing so. Making plans to hang out and then actually following through with them. Thankfully, the platforms that connect new people tend to handle the logistics, so you just have to show up at the designated time and place.
Check Instagram.
There are Instagram accounts dedicated to helping people connect. They can be geared towards making new friends, like atl friends, or connect you to people with similar hobbies or interests, like atlsilentbookclub or BLKHikingclub.
If you're scrolling on Instagram and see a page that fits what you're looking for, look at the similar accounts Instagram recommends. There, you may find more opportunities for socializing to explore.
Have dinner with strangers.
This might sound like a nightmare to some people, but having dinner with a group of strangers, all looking to make new friends, is a thing!
Apps like Timeleft will match you with a small group of people and will coordinate a dinner for everyone to get together. The app asks you questions and then pairs you with compatible dinner companions. It sets a time and place to meet and even provides some icebreakers in case the conversation lulls. If things go well, it will also suggest a place to go after dinner if people want to continue hanging out.
The app is currently in select cities and does require a subscription, which does not cover the cost of dinner.
Try Bumble.
If one-on-one is more your style, try Bumble. The dating app has two ways to help you make friends: using the Bumble BFF mode in the dating app or using their friend-specific app Bumble For Friends.
Shop top-rated related products:
Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
See what is planned on Meetup.
Meetup is a very popular platform that lists events happening in your area designed to help you connect with new people. They have a variety of events and interests, so you can choose something you're an expert at or explore something new.
Plus, you can choose between online and in-person meetups.
Befriend your fellow Redditors.
Some city-specific Reddit pages have event or meetup threads that can help you connect with new people. Essentially, you leave a comment, set a time and place for people to gather, post, and hope people join!
Some of these options might only be available in bigger cities, so if you live in a smaller town, consider looking at events on Facebook or on apps like Nextdoor for opportunities to meet new people.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lizzo Shows Off Her Weight Loss While Rapping and Dancing in a Skimpy String Bikini: Watch
Lizzo shared a video of herself rapping and dancing in a pink and gray string bikini on Instagram on Saturday, June 7 The singer — who has been open about her 'weight release' journey — has been posting fun summer bathing suit videos since Memorial Day Lizzo shared that she had reached her weight loss goal in January 2025Lizzo is embracing her bikini era! The 'Truth Hurts' singer, 37, shared a video on Instagram of herself dancing in a pink and gray string bikini in front of a backyard pool on Saturday, June 7. She also wore a black face covering as she swayed and moved to a track of herself rapping. 'BLACK TRUCK A-- POKING OUT THA WINDOW,' she captioned the post — which is also one of the lyrics to the song that played in the background. Lizzo is no stranger to a fun summer photo shoot. She shared a video of herself dancing and lip-syncing in a yellow and blue bikini and high heels on May 24 to celebrate Memorial Day. The musician has been vocal on social media and in interviews about her weight loss journey since 2023. She also has reminded her followers that the ultimate goal of her weight loss was to improve her mental health. 'Exercise has helped me shift my mind, not my body," she said in a May 2023 TikTok video. Later, in a March 2024 interview with The New York Times, Lizzo revealed that she had been 'methodical' with her health plan and was 'losing weight very slowly.' She also told the outlet that her idea of body positivity had 'evolved into body neutrality.' 'I'm not going to lie and say I love my body every day,' she explained. 'The bottom line is, the way you feel about your body changes every single day. There are some days I adore my body, and others when I don't feel completely positive.' In January 2025, the 'About Damn Time' singer shared two mirror selfies on Instagram overlaid with screenshots from an app that showed her weight goal had been achieved. 'I did it,' she captioned the post. 'Today when I stepped on my scale, I reached my weight release goal. I haven't seen this number since 2014! Let this be a reminder you can do anything you put your mind to. Time for new goals!' The stats in her photos revealed that the star had lowered her body mass index by 10.5 and had lost 16% of her body fat. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Lizzo has also been open about the intentional way she talks about losing weight. During an April 7 interview on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, the singer said that she prefers the term 'weight release' to 'weight loss.' "My man, he's so funny,' she said, referring to her boyfriend, Myke Wright. 'He was the one that brought it to my attention at first. Because at first I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I lost five pounds,' and he was like, 'Where did it go?' " 'It's like, I don't think I want to lose anything. I think I want to win. I think I want to gain,' she added. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Excited' Meghan Markle Sizzles In A White Slip Dress In New Pic Of Her Running On The Beach
Meghan Markle seems to be in a great place in her life if the new blissful photo of her running on the beach is anything to go by. The duchess has been in a generous mood lately as she has given royal fans a peek into her life by sharing rare family moments from a Disneyland trip with Prince Harry and their children. Meghan Markle also recently went viral online and sparked an intense debate after posting a video of herself dancing while pregnant to induce labor. On Saturday, June 7, Meghan looked breathtaking as she was captured in a serene moment by the beach, as seen in a photo posted on the Instagram page of her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Dressed in a flowing white gown, the Duchess of Sussex ran barefoot along the shoreline, casually brushing her hair back with one hand. The caption read: "So excited for all the good to come! Running into the weekend like." The image certainly wowed royal fans as several took to social media to praise the former actress. One person wrote, "Good for her. Enjoying every minute of her fabulous life despite all those deranged haters," while another noted that "she looks happy and fab." The beach photo comes just hours after Meghan shared a heartfelt montage of a recent family trip to Disneyland, featuring herself, Prince Harry, and their children: Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lillibet, four. Describing their two-day Disneyland vacation as "pure joy," the mother of two expressed gratitude to the company that made the getaway possible. The photos captured the family enjoying numerous rides and indulging in delicious treats. Among the highlights was the adorable moment Lillibet and Archie met Elsa from "Frozen" for the first time. Another photo captured the duke and his daughter enjoying a theme park ride together, and a different one with his son. Prior to Meghan's Disneyland video montage, she shared a video of herself and Harry dancing in what appeared to be a hospital room, a lighthearted moment meant to induce labor before Lilibet's birth. The clip showed a visibly pregnant Meghan twerking playfully in a black gown, while Harry danced alongside her in a grey hoodie and jeans. Posting the video on Instagram to celebrate Lilibet's fourth birthday, Meghan wrote: "Four years ago today, this also happened." She continued, "Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!" Earlier this week, Meghan gave fans a fresh update on her lifestyle brand, As Ever, by sharing a vibrant photo on the brand's Instagram page, hinting that new products may be on the way. The image showcased a table filled with colorful bowls of berries, lemons, and measuring cups. In the caption, she wrote: "To all who've been wondering and waiting, thank you! Your favorites are returning, plus a few NEW things we can't wait to show you." She added, "Coming this month... get excited!" This update follows the brand's successful launch on April 2, when Meghan introduced the first collection, featuring items such as Raspberry Spread and Flower Sprinkles, all of which sold out within an hour. "Our shelves may be empty, but my heart is full! We sold out in less than one hour, and I can't thank you enough … for celebrating, purchasing, sharing, and believing," she wrote on Instagram that day. "It's just the start @aseverofficial. Here we go!" Meghan's As Ever update follows the release of a bonus episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. In the episode, she opened up to Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles, about the behind-the-scenes challenges of building As Ever. Reflecting on the brand's April launch, Meghan acknowledged the intentional scarcity of products such as jam, likening the strategy to a "sneaker drop." She admitted that while the limited release may have generated excitement, it wasn't without concern. "A scarcity mentality at the beginning might be a hook for people," she said. "But I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time." Discussing the overwhelming demand, she shared the internal debate that followed: "Yes, amazing, great news. Then what do you do? And then you say, 'Ok, we planned as best as we could. Are we going to replenish and sell out again in an hour? Or is that annoying as a customer?" Ultimately, the duchess decided to slow things down: "I'm looking at it, saying 'Just pause. That happened. Let's wait until we are completely stable and we have everything we need.'"
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Lululemon rival facing $150 million lawsuit (blame influencers)
After months of seeing the same brand pop up again and again on Instagram, I finally caved. Everyone from fitness influencers to lifestyle creators seemed to be wearing the same sleek sweatpants and cropped sweatshirt set. I wanted in. I didn't just stumble upon it - I made a special trip to the store just to try it on. The influencers had done their job: I already felt like I needed it. At first, it lived up to the hype. The fabric was buttery soft, and I found myself reaching for it constantly. Related: Lululemon's latest viral product reveals something much bigger But after one wash, the magic faded. The softness disappeared, replaced by an average feel that left me a little disappointed. I still wear the set because it's cute (and let's be honest, I paid a premium for it), but it no longer feels like heaven against my skin. Now? It's just... meh. Experiences like mine aren't uncommon in the influencer era. But now, one popular yoga brand is facing more than just a few dissatisfied customers. A newly filed $150 million class action lawsuit accuses the company (and more than a dozen influencers) of misleading consumers through undisclosed paid endorsements. The message? Trust is expensive. And this brand may soon learn that the hard way. Image source: Koerner/Getty Images Turns out, I'm not the only one rethinking that hype-driven purchase. The lawsuit, filed last week, targets none other than Alo Yoga. Plaintiffs argue Alo's rise was fueled by influencers blurring the line between paid promo and personal praise. Personally, I call it sexy deception. The 38-page complaint alleges Alo has built its brand and customer base primarily through social media marketing, according to Lexology, Roughly 90% of the company's revenue is attributed to online sales and its Alo Moves platform-and much of that success, plaintiffs claim, comes from influencer promotions that misrepresent paid endorsements as authentic, unpaid opinions. Related: Nike's house is not in order, and customers may pay the price Plaintiffs say they purchased Alo products after seeing Instagram posts from influencers they trusted. The posts included glowing endorsements and tagged Alo products-but allegedly lacked the legally required material connection disclosures. The plaintiffs argue that they paid a premium based on the perceived impartiality of these influencers, only to later feel misled about the true value of the products. In short: this isn't some slap-on-the-wrist lawsuit. If the plaintiffs succeed, Alo and its influencers could be on the hook for more than $150 million-and a big chunk of their brand equity. This lawsuit is more than a legal headache - it's a gut punch to Alo's brand image. It's also a huge flashing red warning sign for every influencer-heavy brand out there. Transparency in influencer marketing isn't just an ethical best practice, it's a legal requirement. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates clear, conspicuous disclosures of material connections between brands and influencers. Anything less can open the door to lawsuits, regulatory fines, and loss of consumer trust. And let's be real: too many brands (and influencers) still play fast and loose with those pesky disclosure rules. In the relentless pursuit of growth, the temptation to make paid content feel "organic" is strong. But as this case shows, the legal and reputational costs of cutting corners can be enormous. This case isn't an outlier. It's a preview. Brands should take note: clear disclosures don't have to ruin the authenticity of influencer content. In fact, they can enhance it-building credibility with increasingly savvy audiences. Failing to do so, however, risks turning a viral marketing win into a $150 million cautionary tale. As class actions targeting influencer marketing continue to rise, the message to brands is simple: get your house in order, or brace for the kind of backlash money can't fix. Related: Steve Madden files wild lawsuit against Adidas The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
