How to Make Friends: Zoom Edition

While a virtual semester comes with many perks (waking up mere minutes before a 9 a.m. and still making it to class on time never gets old), making new friends definitely poses a new challenge. Without social community spaces other than your local laundry room, when it comes to socializing, you may need to get creative. Here are Flyby’s tips to making friends: Zoom Edition — because a virtual semester doesn’t need to be a lonely semester.

Run a Background Check

Level 1: Let Them Come to You

The first step to figuring out who’s worth befriending is to run some background checks! While you can no longer gauge and convey common interests and identities through thorough laptop stickers, this is where Zoom’s background functionality comes into play. Too shy to slide into someone’s Zoom messages? Personalize your Zoom background, and, if you’re lucky, it won’t be long before you ignite a conversation over your shared interest. Let the bonding commence!

Breakout of Your Comfort Zone

Level 2: Meet Them Halfway

Looking for a more organic connection? Let the Zoom deities and/or your professor work their magic by assigning you into a breakout room where you can test for yourself whether or not your partner passes the vibe check. Before delving into the social theory of gift-giving, take the opportunity to break out of your comfort zone and give the gift of an icebreaker or compliment!

Do the Most by Being a Host

Level 3: Go the Full Nine Yards

Zoom classes just not doing it for you? Plan a game night or speed friending night with classmates or people you’d like to know better! Zoom’s randomized breakout rooms are perfect for pairing people up, and you can find great icebreaker questions online. Once the ice is broken, skribbl.io and drawphone are great ways to kick off a fun game night!

But remember, Zoom fatigue is a real thing, so ~tech~ a break every once in a while and go on a nice walk. Who knows — maybe you’ll even meet a friend out in the wild (socially distanced, of course).