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Has anyone used an app/other online tool to find friends?

12 replies

Seymorbutts · 26/01/2026 20:34

I feel like such a loser even thinking about doing this! Long story short me & primary age ds moved to a new, fairly rural area about a year ago. We had to move due to abusive ex who was harassing me & making our lives extremely difficult in our old area. We’re far away now & he doesn’t know where we are. I have no friends or family in our new area or nearby and in the last year have only made a few acquaintances, mainly other parents at my ds’s school. I’m getting really lonely and would love to make some new friends in the area. I remember an old friend telling me a few years ago that she was using an app (can’t remember the name) to find new friends. This shocked me because she’s a really sociable, funny, cool person who already had a number of friends. It made me think maybe this is a socially acceptable thing to do these days?! And maybe not everyone on these sites is going to be socially awkward & has never been able to make real life friends? Am I being judgemental and is the stigma that I thought was attached to it outdated? Has anyone had any experience of these apps/sites?

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 26/01/2026 20:38

I’m sure others will be along, but I always hear good things about Meet-up.

I have been in a book club for 22 years and that was originally something I spotted on the community centre notice board. Have you looked in the parish magazine?

CraftyNavySeal · 26/01/2026 20:39

One of the women in my circle is because my other friend met her on Bumble Friends

Seymorbutts · 26/01/2026 20:43

CraftyNavySeal · 26/01/2026 20:39

One of the women in my circle is because my other friend met her on Bumble Friends

Ah yeah that was it - bumble friends! (The app my friend was using) thank you

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Seymorbutts · 26/01/2026 20:48

PermanentTemporary · 26/01/2026 20:38

I’m sure others will be along, but I always hear good things about Meet-up.

I have been in a book club for 22 years and that was originally something I spotted on the community centre notice board. Have you looked in the parish magazine?

One of the reasons I was thinking about trying an app rather than local groups in the area is I’m quite young compared to much of the population of where I live - it’s rural and there are a lot of older people about, many of whom I’ve met at various local events and who are absolutely lovely but I’m only 32 and many of them are in their 60s & 70s, so it would be nice to meet some people closer to my own age. The school mums I know all seem to have very busy lives and I don’t want to force it with them.

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Incalescent · 26/01/2026 20:49

Why wouldn’t other people be using apps for the same reason you are, rather than being socially unskilled loners who can’t hold a conversation?

Seymorbutts · 26/01/2026 20:53

Incalescent · 26/01/2026 20:49

Why wouldn’t other people be using apps for the same reason you are, rather than being socially unskilled loners who can’t hold a conversation?

Well I don’t imagine many people are in my situation. Not many people up and move halfway across the country as a single parent to somewhere they have no friends or family nearby.

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AltitudeCheck · 26/01/2026 21:13

If you are at all outdoorsy have a look at Love Her Wild on Facebook. There are local groups and they organise walks and outdoor stuff for women. Range of ages but majority under 40 I'd say.

TheQuirkyPombear · 26/01/2026 22:36

My daughter moved away for work and used bumble and has made 2 close friends.

LemaxObsessive · 26/01/2026 22:54

I’ve tried a few times but no joy. I’m the same as you OP, no friends due to abusive ex meaning I had to move. Anyone in North Yorkshire fancy a chat, pm me :) Primary aged DD

Seymorbutts · 27/01/2026 08:52

LemaxObsessive · 26/01/2026 22:54

I’ve tried a few times but no joy. I’m the same as you OP, no friends due to abusive ex meaning I had to move. Anyone in North Yorkshire fancy a chat, pm me :) Primary aged DD

Ah a shame I’m nowhere near North Yorkshire!

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Incalescent · 27/01/2026 08:59

Seymorbutts · 26/01/2026 20:53

Well I don’t imagine many people are in my situation. Not many people up and move halfway across the country as a single parent to somewhere they have no friends or family nearby.

People of all relationship statuses move to places they have no friends and family all the time, inside and outside their home countries! You are being needlessly judgemental. You won't be the only person on there for the same reason.

Seymorbutts · 27/01/2026 10:28

Incalescent · 27/01/2026 08:59

People of all relationship statuses move to places they have no friends and family all the time, inside and outside their home countries! You are being needlessly judgemental. You won't be the only person on there for the same reason.

IME single parents do not often move permanently to somewhere new where they have no support network unless they absolutely have to

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