Loneliness is a global issue. A 2021 study from Statista revealed that 33 percent of adults often experience loneliness. This is unsurprising in a world where we have had to learn how to self-isolate and adapt to working from home.
Feeling lonely can be detrimental to your productivity, your mental health, and your general well-being. While it's clear that feeling lonely is a common human ailment, there are things you can do to change your experience. Learn how to stop feeling lonely and connect with others using these social apps.
1. Hinge: Find Love the Old-Fashioned Way
The dating app that is “designed to be deleted,” Hinge promises to help you meet someone the old-fashioned way yet through the modern world of social media. It’s the ideal app if you want to stop feeling lonely and find love in a more meaningful way than most dating apps can offer.
Hinge stands out from other similar apps because it allows you only to see candidates who are friends of your friends on Facebook. It's like having friends set you up on a blind date, but without the awkwardness of the surprise part.
Hinge can help you overcome loneliness by encouraging you to connect with others in real life. Once you begin to communicate with a match, you only have two weeks to exchange contact information and take your relationship offline or you'll disappear from each other's dashboards. Find out more in our guide to Hinge.
Download: Hinge for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Chatous: Make New Friends Through Online Chat
Finding a date isn’t the only way to stop feeling lonely. Sometimes what you really crave is a kindred spirit who shares your love of 16th century classical music—or whatever your obscure obsession happens to be.
Chatous uses hashtags to connect you with like-minded individuals across the world. You can keep your conversation text-based or incorporate pictures, videos, and audio files. The overall aim, however, is to make friends based on your shared interests.
This app can help cure the blues by connecting you to new friends, some of whom may even live in the same city. You can also keep your identity anonymous—it's up to you how much you want to share and invest in your Chatous friendships. Read our tips on how to start random chats if you’re looking for conversation starters.
Download: Chatous for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Tastebuds: Connect Through Your Love of Music
Speaking of common interests, Tastebuds is devoted to your love of music. One of the best ways to stop feeling lonely is to connect through shared passions, and this app will help you make friends in your area by matching you with people who share your favorite bands and songs.
If you love to go to shows and concerts but would enjoy it even more with a friend, Tastebuds can make your favorite pastime less lonely. And if you're a musician looking for others to jam or form a band with, you're likely to find them on Tastebuds. Use Tastebuds to meet new friends through your shared love of music and discover new bands while you’re there!
Download: Tastebuds for iOS (Free)
4. MeetUp: Make Friends Online and Meet in the Real World
There are many reasons why Meetup is great for meeting new people and it should be a part of your toolbox for combating loneliness.
If you’ve found yourself shying away from social events in recent years, then Meetup is a great way to gently rejoin groups and activities. The app allows you to find and meet people who have the same interests or hobbies as you. You can join meet-up groups both online and in-person, depending on whether you'd like to socialize outdoors or from the comfort of your home.
Meetup can help you cope with feeling lonely by providing a sense of community. By joining groups of like-minded people, you can develop a sense of belonging and make a bunch of new friends at the same time.
Download: MeetUp for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Learn How to Stop Feeling Lonely to Improve Your Well-Being
One of the best ways to deal with feeling lonely is by connecting with other people. If you’re feeling lonely, reach out to a friend or family member. You can also start new friendships or relationships by using the apps suggested in this article. The key is to keep in contact and share your interests or feelings. In this digital age, there is always someone available to reach out to.