{"id":44177,"date":"2021-11-05T11:21:37","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T11:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=44177"},"modified":"2021-12-17T14:03:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T14:03:38","slug":"would-you-meet-a-stranger-from-tiktok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/would-you-meet-a-stranger-from-tiktok\/","title":{"rendered":"Would you meet a stranger from TikTok?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There has been a surge of people finding new friends on TikTok.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Don\u2019t talk to strangers\u2019 was drilled into us as children, and even printed onto our rubbers at school. Yet, with the rise of dating and friendship apps like Tinder and Bumble BFF, it\u2019s become a norm in our society to do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen Zs grew up on Omegle, the video chat site that would connect you with strangers from across the globe. They saw things that were not appropriate for under 16s to know about \u2013 let alone see. Yet, it was the ultimate sleepover activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The internet makes it easy to make new friends | Credit: Tatiana Syrikova from Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why are young people now turning to TikTok to find new pals? Psychologist and friendship expert, Dr Marisa Franco<\/a> believes that meeting friends online can help ensure that you have some sort of common interest that anchors your relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an ideal world, this sounds perfect. But can online relationships be as strong? Franco advises that meeting in person is the best way to deepen a friendship due to the issues created through online platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There’s evidence that communicating via video decreases trust<\/a> because of difficulties in reading non-verbal cues,” she told The Voice of London. “This research leads me to conclude that we should hold off on expecting our friendships to offer what they typically do for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over 50% of teenagers have met an online friend (Pew Research Centre) | Credit: Haocan Li from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

TikTok\u2019s clever algorithm relates your news feed to your interests. It is almost like a \u2018match\u2019 on Tinder<\/a> \u2013 connecting you with other like-minded people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One video reads: \u201cI need new friends, so if you live in London [\u2026] drop your Snapchat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comment section is flooded with people posting their social media handles and location with strangers. They are happy to reveal their private information for the prospect of a new friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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i\u2019m making friends on tiktok and honestly… my heart\ud83e\udd7a i just had a heart to heart with someone about body image issues<\/p>— christina (@stinaaamarieee_) May 19, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>