If you’ve been following the blog for any length of time, then you probably know that I’m a military wife and move around a lot. Making friends as an adult can be really difficult. That’s why I rely on my Internet friends to keep me sane, especially during moves and transitions when I might not have any local friends to lean on.
One of the hardest things to do as an adult is make new friends. It’s not like elementary school when you could look at the person sitting next to you and ask them to be your friend. Asking a stranger next to you to be friends might result in some weird looks. (There’s always that off chance that it could result in a friendship…)
Making friends on the internet is a bit easier though because you’re able to connect in like minded groups and situations. Internet friends are great because you can take them with you wherever you go. When you move, local friends become a part of that group as well. I could go on and on about the importance of digital friends, but that’s a topic I covered in another post.
So, how do you find these great Internet friends?
Join Facebook groups.
My favorite way to meet people online is through Facebook groups. You can find a group for just about anything by simply using the search feature. It might take you a few tries to find the perfect groups for you, but I promise they’re out there! If you need a place to start, you can hop over and join Hodge Podge Moments: The Community. In fact, making friends and finding support is what the group is all about! We even connect over a fun happy hour thread everyday.
Connect via hashtags.
Hashtags are very powerful. They’re like keywords that anyone can search just by clicking. They’re also perfect for finding others with similar interests. Last fall, I actually connected with another Coast Guard wife who was pregnant with her first son. Our sons ended up being a couple of weeks apart in age! Maybe someday life will bring us together for an in person playdate.
Read and comment on blogs.
I have met so many friends through my blog. In fact, some of my best friends started out as fellow bloggers. If you’re a blogger, then you’re familiar with the fact that commenting on other blogs is a great way to get exposure. It’s also a great way to connect with others and form friendships. I bet you’re already reading quite a few blogs, why not leave a comment here and there to further the connection?
Be like a bird and tweet about it.
Ah…Twitter. I used to be really active on Twitter. Then I wasn’t. Then I was. Right now, I would say I’m less than active – primarily because I took the app off of my phone to free up some space. It is a great place to connect with others in short, simple bursts. Since tweets come with a limit, small talk is golden and you never have to worry about someone being long winded!
Do you have online friends? How did you meet them?
