Skip navigation! Best from Living. Last Updated 18 July We talked about dreams, dating and our shared best of burrata," she added. Haifa is among the increasing number of women who are searching for new connections via friend-finding apps.
While online dating has become ubiquitous almost a third of relationships now begin onlineusing digital platforms to make new friends is also growing in popularity.
Finding IRL Connections From Digital Communities
This was accelerated thanks to the pandemic, which made forging new friendships harder than ever. You swipe through different profiles of potential connections, start conversations through the app and meet up offline for dates. Finding new friends once you go beyond school and university can be difficult, especially when you move to a new place or your existing friends' lives go in link directions.
The apps offer a potential solution. They're not new — Peanut has been around sinceBumble BFF since — but for a long time, many people felt there was something a bit 'weird' about asking someone on a friend date; just listen to this toe-curlingly awkward story on This American Life about two men trying to forge a friendship through platonic friend.
But as with so much else, the past few years appear to have worked wonders when it comes to resetting social norms. It felt organic right after we had the conversation about being on Bumble BFF and why.
Looking To Apps In Search Of Friendship
We bonded over our shared feelings and goals. Pao, 28, had a similar experience when she moved to London five years ago. Rather like romantic dating, she found that it can be a numbers game. We went for coffee, walks and ice cream. Some were a little awkward, some went really well. Application of these connections evolved into friendships which remain solid to this day. These apps bridge the application and allow you to meet people just for socialising. I don't have that many hobbies and I have moved around quite often," year-old Eniye from Bedfordshire told me.
For new mums, friend-finding apps can be invaluable. Maria, 28, from Glasgow, started using Dating american girl when she was three months pregnant.
Best friend application
She didn't have any friends in a similar situation and the country was going into the first national lockdown. At first, she was a little cautious: "I have never used a dating app so I was unsure what it would be like and how it would work.
Would I meet like-minded women? Was it safe? Who would be able to read my information and was it private? Now with an 8-month-old for, Maria has found the connections she's made vital to her wellbeing. When everything was closed, we would meet outside for walks and coffees. Now some of the friendships have even progressed to play dates and swimming.
I believe a few of them will be lifelong friendships. Hannah, 37, from Manchester, had similar success with a mum meeting app called Mush. She was so easy to talk to and I felt like a real friend as soon as we met," Hannah explained. The two women have supported each other through new motherhood and second pregnancies. When my second baby arrived she dropped off a box of homemade flapjacks and a baby hat she knitted herself. I feel really lucky to for her as a friend.
These apps can also help boost your career and foster new business connections. Restless Networka social media app designed as a safe space for women, allows women to connect via various topics across message boards and private messaging. Amy, 34, dating advertising director from London, joined with the hope of making friends and work connections for support and advice.
We got chatting on DM, then email and then went for coffee," Amy explained. I looked over her CV and she helped me with copywriting. Amy had some good advice for other women tempted to give friend a go: "You need to put the past online experiences to one side. Especially if you have ever dated online. When you meet like-minded women who are there to support each other you remember people are good and motivated by similar values to support and help each other.
Maybe an afternoon walk or coffee," Haifa suggested. Warning: The following includes descriptions of rape, sexual dating and abuse that some readers may find distressing. Early on Thursday morning last week. Talking about money benefits all of us — and we need to do it more. Join the conversation with Worth More, our guide to better finances, from naviga.