If you feel like you are spending way too much time online, fear not because, in this day and age, we are all hooked to our computers, mobiles, iPads, tablets, etc. Usually, a normal person spends around 24 hours a week glued to their phones and online communication devices. So, by extension, this means that anyone spending so much time online would also want to make new friends online, too. If making new friends online is something you are interested in, then you have come to the right place. Using instant chat messengers like NEEO, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, and more, here are a few tips on how to make safe, secure, and sustainable new friendships online.
The Right App makes all the Difference
The first step in making online friendships is to choose the right apps. We cannot stress this enough but if you chose the wrong app to start with, your friendships will be warped and weird and not fruitful at all. For example, if you are looking to make new friends online, communities like Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. are very good resources. However, if you go on apps and sites like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, etc., you will not be successful in your endeavor because these apps are for dating, not for making friends. So, pick the right apps to get started on your journey.
Don’t Share Too Much Right Away
Once you have downloaded your desired and appropriate app, you will find that you are asked to give out a little bit of information about yourself. This is because it helps the app find people who match your interests and are like-minded. Now, the thing you need to keep in mind is that on these apps, all sorts of people are present, so be mindful of what you share about yourself on these apps. Do not get into too much detail about your interests. Choose vague statements like “I like swimming and cooking” instead of saying things like “I go swimming at the Y on Elm Street every day”.
This thing is necessary to do because when making online friends, you do not know who the other person across the screen is. They might be pretending to be someone else. So, to keep your safety as your utmost priority, make sure to not give away specific information like your city, location, where you work, etc. Remember that in the early stages of online friendships, you need to very careful about you say, so it is good to take everything with a grain of salt.
Do Some Research
After you have created your profile and have made a new friend, you need to do some research. Everyone is on every single app these days. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Bumble, Reddit, Tumblr, just to name a few. So, do some research on your newfound friend. If you think this new friend is an interesting person and you want to keep talking to them, then look them on Google, something about them is surely going to pop up. Additionally, there are websites that allow you to do research on people just using their names and email addresses. So, just to be on the safe side, look up your friend, and verify that they are who they say they are.
This research will also help you find more common things between you and your friend. After rummaging through their social media profiles, you will find a plethora of data about your friend. You will not only feel safer going forward talking to them but also will have more things to talk to them about! Additionally, you will be able to see and verify if your friend has been completely honest with you about themselves.
Trust your Gut Feelings
This final advice from our side may seem archaic and outdated, but trust us, you will be better off once you take our word on this particular issue. In today’s digital age, where everyone’s dirty laundry is present online, don’t trust everything you see. People curate fake social media profiles using instant chat messengers like NEEO, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, and more for cat-fishing and scamming others, and for far nastier purposes, too. So, if you are talking to someone whose social media profiles seem perfect and everything they say to you is in accordance with what they have posted, but there’s a little voice inside your head telling you to back off, trust that voice. Often times our gut feelings are our biggest navigators. So, trust your gut no matter what.
From us at NEEO Messenger, these are the best tips we can give you if you want to make friends but also want to stay safe simultaneously. So, follow these tips, and keep checking this space for more exciting and relatable content.
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