Making friends as an adult has become increasingly complex. While digital connections are at an all-time high, many struggle to form meaningful relationships offline. Social media offers an avenue, but does it replace genuine human connection?
Experiences from various social group founders shed light on this evolving dynamic.
Social Media as a Gateway
bbc.com | Joyce Leon Velasquez created Cambridge Girls Circle, a 700-member community for meeting new friends.
Joyce Leon Velasquez, 29, experienced this firsthand. Struggling to form meaningful friendships with women she didn’t know, she created a community that allowed people to introduce themselves online and then meet in person. Her group, Cambridge Girls Circle, launched in March, now has more than 700 members.
Velasquez emphasizes that forming real connections requires effort. "I think the opportunities are there, but social media does influence a lot," she explains. Social media can create the illusion of connection. Many assume relationships are maintained simply by liking photos or scrolling past posts.
Velasquez noticed this with her own family interactions. Seeing someone on social media often replaced the deeper conversations that sustain friendships.
Meeting Friends Offline
Raymond Osborn, 42, established Northamptonshire - Make New Friends (UK) in 2010. His goal was similar: to build a space for both online and in-person friendship. Today, the group has 3,000 members and organizes events like pub trips, karaoke nights, and quizzes.
Osborn notes that many people struggle to form friendships in real life. Social media groups offer a judgment-free environment where trust can develop before meeting face-to-face.
"It’s great that people make friends on them, but also have a bit of a laugh and banter along the way," he says.
Expanding Opportunities for Connection
Social media groups are providing more chances to meet new people.
Royah Irvine, 39, launched Milton Keynes Social Meetup Group in October 2022. With over 1,200 members, the group illustrates how busy modern lives make it harder to maintain traditional social circles. Irvine explains that while many want to be social, anxieties often get in the way. Adult friendships require intentional effort that social media can help facilitate.
Pia Carson-Moore, 31, created a women-only run club in Suffolk. Using social media to connect participants, she organizes weekly runs that help members step out of isolation. Carson-Moore believes groups that encourage in-person meetups are effective in helping people overcome social fears and build confidence in meeting new people.
The Human Need for Connection
bbc.com | Tribe Norfolk founder Katy Coe warns that rising costs are killing social spaces.
Katy Coe, 43, runs Tribe Norfolk, a social group that started in 2016 and now has more than 4,800 members. Coe highlights the decline of physical social spaces such as pubs and event venues, often due to financial pressures.
This shift intensifies the need for meaningful human connection. Social media becomes a tool to fill this gap, helping people find community even when traditional spaces are limited.
Social Media and Real Friendships
Despite concerns about online interactions replacing face-to-face connections, social media can support genuine relationships. Dr. Veronica Lamarche, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Essex, explains that online platforms provide an "easy entry point" for meeting others. Posting in a group allows interaction without the constant demands of in-person socializing. This flexibility can foster closeness while navigating the pressures of modern life.
Dr. Lamarche stresses that online connections are not inherently less meaningful. Humans are adaptable and will find ways to build bonds, even in a highly digital world.
The modern social landscape blends digital and real-world interactions. Social media groups can help people meet safely, build trust, and encourage participation in offline activities. While the avenues have changed, the underlying human need for connection remains strong. By combining online introductions with real-world experiences, forming meaningful friendships continues to be possible.
