The Internet is a field full of possibilities and, despite the fact that until not so long ago it has been unfairly associated with sedentarism, it allows social relations to be enriched if it is used well.
In particular, making friends on the Internet is one of the most interesting possibilities offered by the network of networks, capable of connecting people who are thousands of kilometres away from each other, in real time.

Along the following lines we will see some useful tips on how to make friends on the Internet and use all the potentialities of cyberspace to meet people who bring us good things.

How to make friends on the Internet

To find out how and where to make friends on the Internet, follow the guidelines below, taking into account that you should adapt them to your particular case.

1. Search thematic forums

There are many spaces on the Internet where you can exchange messages openly, but the most useful when making friends are the thematic forums. Why? Among other things, because just by entering them there is already a topic of conversation that interests everyone involved .

Unlike other places explicitly set up to start conversations with strangers and make friends, in thematic forums there is no pressure to speak for the sake of speaking, and dialogue comes more smoothly and naturally. Not only that, but it is pleasant because of the double objective of relating to others and talking about a topic that interests us and about which we can learn in that kind of virtual space.

2. Better forums than chats

Another piece of advice is to opt for forums rather than chats, at least in the beginning. There are two reasons for this.

On the one hand, in the forums, as we do not communicate in real time with the rest of the people, there is no pressure to write quickly and well; we can take our time to create the messages we want , whether long or short, and the responses to previous interventions.

On the other hand, in the forums it is easier to follow the thread of a conversation, as there is the possibility of quoting comments from others and attaching our response just below. This helps reduce the feeling of chaos and allows for richer and deeper conversations that are not constantly interrupted by other people’s participation.

So, when making friends on the Internet, it is advisable to use the chat when there has already been a previous contact and there is a certain level of trust, regardless of whether we have met the other person face to face or not.

3. Avoid toxic environments

It is true that on the Internet it is possible to meet a wide variety of people, but it is also true that in this context hostility south more easily, due to the relative anonymity we retain in chats, forums and social networking spaces where we can interact with other people.

Therefore, it is important that you avoid entering into dynamics of toxicity, which are those spaces in which more than discussions appear personal disqualifications and flooding bursts . Given that nothing good can come out of them, it is advisable not to waste time. It is important not to fall into gratuitous provocations, since developing this habit leads to spending valuable time that should be oriented towards other forms of socialization on the Internet.

However, keep in mind that toxic spaces are not always just strings of replies to a message, or a forum thread. They can be somewhat broader than that; for example, an entire forum can be filled with people with great ease to personal disqualification.

4. Careful with personal data

Just because you can’t interact with people face-to-face on the Internet doesn’t mean that we have an excuse to ask someone we don’t know for their contact information right away.
And the same goes in the opposite direction: you have to value your own privacy, since the net offers many things, but also makes it possible for the simplest personal data to mislead you: location, telephone number, place of work, etc.

Don’t lie about yourself, but filter out what you want to say and what you don’t want to say at the moment.

5. Go to meetings

Group meetings are a good way to socialize, since you can meet several people in one day. In this way, it is easier to fit in with someone and the risk of being disappointed is lower . In addition, there is also the advantage that in the meetings it is not necessary to have talked for a long time with a specific person; when several people meet, it is easier to have conversations in which to participate.

6. Be careful with online games

Online games are an interesting form of entertainment, but you shouldn’t play them if all you want to do is make friends. This is because if you get used to making your friend search dependent on such games, you may spend too much time on it, and even money .

This kind of online games should always be valued for what they are: games, places for roleplaying and experimentation and playable mechanics, and where the social plays a secondary and instrumental role in enjoying the entertainment offered by that title.