While many people rely on school ties and their job for a chance to mingle with others and possibly forge friendships, others are unable to take advantage of these opportunities to find friends.
These individuals must look for other ways to meet people and in today's society - the Internet has become a powerful tool of communication and contact regarding the outside world.
The beauty of using online resources to find friends is that a wider scope awaits, spanning endless international possibilities.
MySpace Over the years, MySpace has evolved into a highly visible and popular resource that teenagers, adults, musicians, artists, and even politicians have used to find friends and gain support.
With the use of photos, videos, and online posts, an intense level of communication allows individuals of all walks of life to make connections with people they normally wouldn�t have access to.
One of the biggest draws pertaining to MySpace is the quest to gain as many "friends" as possible.
Facebook Since 2004, Facebook has been a popular social networking website with a collegiate twist.
At first, only students of Harvard University were allowed to become a member, which slowly expanded to the Boston area and then over the following year, encouraged many other universities to participate.
In the end, most colleges in the United States and Canada possessing an ".
edu" email address became eligible to join.
Various networks and techniques are used to make business connections and find friends on Facebook.
These include stating your high school, searching by place of employment, and meeting up with others living in similar geographic locations.
Online Dating Sites Not everyone has to enter a romantic relationship when choosing to browse the listings of online dating sites.
There are plenty of people who are simply looking for friends.
Today, there are both subscription-based and free online dating services that span Christian singles to alternative lifestyles.
When posting a profile, many individuals make it clear that they are looking to find friends, which makes it easier to come in contact with those who share the same interests.
Forums & Discussion Boards Forums and discussion boards allow individuals to mingle with others who share the same interests, hobbies, or beliefs.
It is easy to find friends when a common ground is uncovered.
Today, people gather to post their thoughts on anything from global warming to being a dog lover to sharing a medical concern, such as diabetes or cancer.
Chatrooms The real time contact of using the Internet to "chat" with other people is also a good way to find friends.
Many individuals feel less threatened when they are able to communicate with strangers under "codenames" and "usernames.
" Various chatrooms are centered on themes or included with additional outlets, such as online gaming opportunities.
Some people find friends by competing against other participants in activities, such as online dominoes, gin rummy, or checkers, where dialogue may take place.
Overall, it is quite easy to make friends using the Internet, whether you scope out the online dating scene, post a profile on a social marketing site, or simply participate in online activities.