Loneliness in Our Generation: Understanding the Growing Epidemic Among Millennials and Gen Z

Dinner with a Stranger: A New Way to Make Friends

Juliette Sartori, a student at Glasgow University, wanted to expand her social circle. Last year, she went on a coffee date with three strangers. “It went really well,” she said. “We ended up speaking for two hours, and I still speak to them today.”

Juliette and her flatmates started the Dinner with a Stranger society to help fellow students meet new people. She, originally from the U.S., found it hard to connect with others in Scotland, where she noticed people were often closed off.

With many students focused on digital interactions, Juliette lacked opportunities to make friends. After launching Dinner with a Stranger, she expected only 30 people to join. Instead, 200 students signed up in the first month. The society now includes undergraduates and postgraduates of various genders.

Juliette’s initiative contrasts with dating apps that focus on romantic connections. Dinner with a Stranger emphasizes friendship. Members fill out personality quizzes at the start of each month. Questions cover topics such as favorite music and dream vacations. Juliette and her team then manually pair participants before stepping back.

Mary Yiorkadji, Juliette’s friend, noted the loneliness many feel in today’s society, worsened by social media. “People are lonelier now,” she said. Mary believes the society fosters connections based on shared interests, making friendships more natural.

Students like Vanya and Hannah, paired through Dinner with a Stranger, highlight the importance of friendship. Hannah shared that before meeting Vanya, she often felt lonely and miserable. Now, they are best friends and flatmates.

Juliette sees the potential for growth in these friendship-making initiatives. She finds it normal to seek friendships this way. As remote work and online learning become common, she believes opportunities for friendship dates will rise.

Juliette emphasizes, “It’s a modern way of making friends.” Dating apps like Bumble are starting to offer similar options for friendships. She believes this trend will grow, making it easier for people to connect.