Have you ever wondered how people become IBFs (Internet Best Friends)? Today, creating internet friendships is easier than ever, as social media platforms cultivate and foster incredible friendships based on your views, likes, and interests.

Although the internet can be a dangerous place at times with cyberbullying and fake accounts, it can also be used as an outlet to effortlessly meet new people from across the world, using the resources that are right at your fingertips. Get ready to use social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, to make your very first IBF.

Starting off with the platform that has completely transformed social media over the last two years, TikTok fosters friendships seamlessly, through the comment section and the ‘For You’ Page. Some TikTok users have started to make Google Forms where their followers can fill out a short survey and be “matched” with a stranger that expressed similar interests and characteristics.

Many users utilize this feature to find anyone from a best friend to a significant other. The app is also a popular place for one to express their opinions in their own videos. For example, say you love one artist and as you’re scrolling through TikTok, a video pops up on your ‘For You’ page that involves that same artist: you decide to comment on the creator’s video and as a result of that, a friendship is born, eventually realizing that you have a lot more in common than just being huge fans of that artist.

Similar to TikTok, Instagram has its own version of a ‘For You’ page, called the ‘Explore’ page, eliciting similar results. Say you have a fan account for a certain television show or movie; this single page helps connect you with friends who share the same love for that film.

Say you are a small creator looking to grow your page or company and you see other creators on your ‘Explore’ page—you might decide to reach out and collaborate. Small businesses, influencers, and creators across the world use this feature to exponentially grow their company or image.

Alternatively, the internet can also be a dangerous and uncertain place. It is very easy for someone to write harsh comments about someone else when they are hiding behind a screen, rather than in-person and face-to-face.

It is also extremely simple to pretend one is someone else on social media, whether through lying about one’s age or creating a fake identity altogether; apps such as Photoshop or Facetune make this even easier. One also has to be weary in posting certain pictures or content, as someone else could steal one’s work and pretend it is their own.

As long as you make sure to keep these dangers in mind, the internet and social media platforms can be amazing places to meet new people from all over the world.