Mental health experts are increasingly calling loneliness a global health crisis. According to the World Health Organization, between five and fifteen percent of adolescents experience loneliness due to various factors, including reduced social interactions or unforeseen life events. This is a big deal because research shows that social connection radically improves physical and mental well-being. People who consistently maintain interpersonal relationships have lower levels of stress and anxiety. But shifting societal norms and the rise of social media have complicated building connections, leaving many wondering where to meet new people. If you’re one of those people wondering how to cultivate new relationships, here are six ways to network and make new friends.
Attend a Local Festival, Like Blavity Fest
Saturday, May 31, to Sunday, June 1
Spend a fun-filled weekend celebrating Black ingenuity at Blavity Fest. Held at Lee + White in Atlanta, Georgia, Blavity Fest leverages knowledge, wealth, creativity, and music to amplify Black culture and entrepreneurship. Blavity Fest also creates an environment that leverages the community. So, connect with fellow festival-goers to enhance what the celebration offers.
The two-day event will feature three venues. The Main Stage will encourage cultural dialogue from experts and professionals discussing various topics related to Blavity’s sub platforms, like 21Ninety and AfroTech. The Idea Exchange will host economic empowerment workshops to educate attendees on financial literacy. The third and final stage, Summit21 House, will center conversations around female empowerment to aid women creative professionals and executives.
Blavity Fest will host special guest appearances from notable figures like 2 Chainz, Marsai Martin, and Kirk Franklin. View the full guest list here.
Get your tickets to Blavity Fest before they’re gone!
Join a Run Club
Gen Z and Millennials are tying up their shoes and turning off their phones to cultivate real-life connections. Aside from the cardiovascular benefits, run clubs are rising in popularity as a way to both connect with people and meet fitness goals. Strava’s Annual Year in Sport Trend Report called run clubs as “the new nightclubs”, citing a 59% increase in global participation in 2024. Run clubs are also becoming a staple for single people, as “the new dating apps.” Across social media platforms such as TikTok, runners have shared their experiences with building platonic and romantic connections at run clubs. So, don’t walk by this hobby, run with it!
The Atlanta Run Club hosts weekly runs with over 30,000 members joining to get active and connect with fellow runners.
Volunteer in the Community
AmeriCorps reported that over 75 million Americans volunteered in 2024, contributing over 1.2 billion hours of work. Volunteering offers the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share similar interests, which can both deepen existing relationships and build new ones.
The psychological benefits of volunteering, such as reducing stress and increasing confidence, encourage participants to visit frequently. This means there’s a good chance you’ll run into the same people more than once, increasing the likelihood of building a connection.
Research various organizations in your area that align with your interests before volunteering to get the most out of the experience. And set up a volunteer schedule to avoid overcommitment.
Contact organizations like Hands On Atlanta to gain access to thousands of volunteer opportunities.
Mingle at Networking Events
Networking can be a great way to develop long-lasting bonds beyond professional relationships. Attend local career workshops or a happy hour to meet people with similar professional or creative aspirations outside a traditional work environment.
Viewing networking as a mutual exchange rather than an opportunity solely for career advancement can help you find people with similar values and goals. That creates a solid base for new relationships, professional, platonic, or more. While scoping the venue, seize the moment to begin a relevant conversation with a fellow attendee. Express excitement and see where the conversation leads.
Be intentional about your approach, though. Decide before the event whether your goal is cultivating career opportunities or friendships. This will help you focus your interactions throughout the event.
Use platforms like Eventbrite, a marketplace website utilized to create and facilitate in-person events, to find networking events in your area.
Use the Power of Social Media
These days, meeting friends through social media is more common than ever before. A 2021 study conducted by The Survey Center on American Life found that 39% of Americans have virtual-only friendships. It makes sense given social media’s integration into our daily lives and the bigger network of social networking platforms available.
Though apps like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) are primarily for content creation and consumption, features like reposting, commenting, and groups promote interaction between users. People can bond over shared humor, values, and interest in a creator’s content. The increased use of social media to share vulnerable information about daily life also allows people to create meaningful connections without ever meeting in person.
So, don’t sleep on social media as a way to meet people! Your new bestie or boo could be lurking in the comments section.
Explore a New Hobby by Taking a Local Class
Is there a hobby you’re eager to learn? Try finding a local group and strengthening your skills while you meet new people! Check your local community center or search for instructional classes on social media to discover diverse pursuits.
Joining a dance class can be socially rewarding, as well as physically beneficial. Mix and mingle with dancers while listening to music, improving your physique, and boosting your confidence. Local cooking classes can enhance culinary skills and provide people with the hands-on opportunity to discover different cuisines. They also give you the opportunity to chat with others while you make and enjoy a meal. If neither of those sounds fun, look for classes in a new language, arts and crafts, photography, painting, improv, or pretty much anything else you can think of!
Consistently attending workshops or classes allows you to see the same people weekly or monthly, which can help build relationships outside the classroom.
Join a Sports League
Participating in a recreational sports league gives you the chance to bond with teammates while staying active. A CivicScience survey projected that 20% of American adults would participate in a recreational sports league in 2023. More than half of the surveyed players said that making friends was a significant factor in joining a sports league. In addition to making friends, joining a sports league can be a big stress-buster.
Leagues can be organized through local parks, gyms, or online forums. Search these organizations’ websites or social media pages to discover sports that are actively accepting members. After finding one you want to join, sign up and attend weekly trainings, where you can build relationships with your teammates.
Talk to People
This may seem obvious, but we never truly know people until we talk to them. A quick conversation with someone you often see in passing but never talk to could reveal compatibility and spark something new. Have a conversation with someone new about your interests, values, and opinions to build a solid base for strong relationships. Speak your truth and let the rest follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should people prioritize building new relationships?
Making friends as an adult can be hard. Human connection can significantly benefit your mental health, boost happiness, and combat the loneliness epidemic.
I’m an introvert. How can I get out of my comfort zone to meet new people?
Don’t be afraid to start small and try new things. Gradually incorporate more social activities into your weekly routine. By joining new hobbies and surrounding yourself with like-minded people, you can find compatibility with others.