We are more digitally connected today than ever, a stark contrast to life before social media, but loneliness still bites especially among teenagers. Not everyone finds it easy to make new friends in person. This fact is supported by the proof that many teenagers cannot even communicate normally in a face to face conversation. A survey conducted by Common Sense Media found that most teens now say their favorite mode of communication is texting (35%) as compared to 2012 when most of the teens said their favorite way of communication was in person.
The simple reason is that they are shy have a hesitating personality and struggle with friendship anxiety – the fear of being rejected, judged, or abandoned by their peers. Many of them end up developing depression, often asking themselves: “Why am I not able to make friends?” To bridge this gap and fulfill your urge to be with someone who makes you happy; most teenagers turn to the online world to find their best buddies.
But it can really be hard sometimes to get a place where you feel safe and secure with the many social media apps around. Some social media apps to make new friends for teens might even put you at risk. Either to make low-maintenance friends or find friends with opposite interests and values, we’ve got you covered with the best and safest apps designed specifically for teens, so now you don’t need to feel sad, alone, or wonder ‘Why do I Hate My Life?‘
Let’s then jump in and discover how to make friends as a teen by using online apps. These amazing applications have not only been safe but also fun to use.
10 Apps for Teens to Make Friends Available on Play and Apple Store
It’s great to make friends and connections online as a teenager, but you have to know how to do it safely and mindfully. With social media, it is very easy to get sucked into endless scrolling and comparisons. This is why we have chosen the top 10 secure applications for teens to make new friends; along with a few mindfulness apps, and browsing apps to cultivate healthy digital habits and self-care. With the help of these apps, teenagers can build meaningful relationships, feel more confident, and create a positive online persona that expresses their true selves.
1. Yubo
Yubo is formerly known as the Yellow social media app. It is one of the best apps for 13-year-olds to make friends and build meaningful connections. The app is more popular among teens, with a separate community for users aged 13 to 17. It has received positive reviews on the App Store, with a large number of active users.
Best Features:
- A platform for teens to connect over shared interests through live streams and chats.
- Profile verification guarantees authenticity and the building up of trust within the community.
- Users can join live streams with people worldwide look through profiles of nearby users, and select interests to display on their profile.
- Snap Lenses and filters for video chats, making it one of the most fun things to do with friends online and providing an interactive way for teens to socialize.
- Free to use app, with in-app purchases for additional features and subscriptions.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 60M+ |
| Downloads on the App Store | 50M |
| Reviews on the App Store | 345.5K |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 10M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 348K |
2. Facebook
Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform with over 3 billion active users. It is also known as one of the best apps for reconnecting with old friends.
Best Features:
- Stories, Messenger, and Reels allow FB users to express themselves and connect with their friends.
- Facebook Marketplace serves as a convenient place for buying and selling items locally.
- In-app purchases for this app include additional features and subscriptions.
- FB is regularly updated to fix bugs and stability problems, which makes it a sure and friendly medium for teenagers to find and make friends.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 3B+ |
| Downloads on the App Store | 5B+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 137M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 5B+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 146M |
3. Spotafriend
Spotafriend is a swiping app that is specifically designed for teens aged 13 to 17 to connect with others in their area and make friends. With over a million users, the app allows teens to swipe right on photos of their peers to become friends. So if you think you can not make a real friend then try Spotafriend.
Best Features
- Requires users to submit a selfie with a specified pose to verify their age. However, the profile picture does not need to match the verification photo.
- Depending on the age entered during registration, the profiles shown are filtered, with a 13-year-old seeing users aged 13 to 16, and a 16-year-old seeing users aged 16 to 19.
- Connects profiles with Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, but raises concerns about sharing personal information with strangers, highlighting the need to weigh the pros and cons of internet use.
As a result, this app has received mixed reviews, with some parents expressing concerns about its safety and the potential for inappropriate interactions.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 3B+ |
| Downloads on the App Store | 100K+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 2k |
4. BeReal
BeReal is a social media app that encourages users to post real content of themselves every day at a different time. Users have 2 minutes to take a photo and submit it to BeReal. For others to see the features whatever the user focused on as well as an image of the user in their current state in the top corner.
Best Features:
Emphasizes authenticity and moderation of screen time, with no likes or follower counts and the ability to limit the audience to friends only.
No use of algorithms to curate content, ensuring users see posts from friends and connections in chronological order that contributes to positive reviews on the App Store.
Comprises a huge number of active users which makes it one of the great apps for teens to make friends.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 25M |
| Downloads on the App Store | 100M |
| Reviews on the App Store | 1,051,438 |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 10M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 306K |
5. Bumble
Bumble BFF is a dedicated friendship app. It is designed to help users create new, meaningful friendships near them.
Best Features:
- Free to download and use. With an optional subscription package (Bumble For Friends Premium) and single or multiple-use paid services for specific features.
- Ideal for 14-year-olds to make friends, prioritizing genuine connections, kindness, and safety.
- Features profile prompts, lifestyle badges, and safety. Measures like Account Verification, Reporting and Blocking, and a Safety Center.
- Fosters a unique and supportive environment for teens to nurture relationships.
- A kind of gratitude app to show appreciation for friends and make them smile.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 12.3M |
| Downloads on the App Store | 50M |
| Reviews on the App Store | 1M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 50M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 1.14M |
6. Twitch
Twitch is rated one of the world’s largest live-streaming video services for video games in the US. It was founded in 2011 and has 100 million viewers in a month. A whopping 15 million active daily users, with an average of 1.4 million concurrent users.
Best Features:
- Live broadcast views without necessarily logging in.
- Allow users to follow and subscribe to their favorite streamers.
- Subscription model to provide its viewers with the possibility to finance the streamers in return for benefits.
- Twitch Prime membership offers free games, in-game loot, and additional perks.
- Community-building features include polls, extensions, donations, a Partner Program, and an Affiliate program for monetizing content.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 240M |
| Downloads on the App Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 5M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 5.44M |
7. Discord
Discord is a widely used platform among teens for connecting through voice, video, and text based on various interests.
Best Features:
- Free to use with optional in-app purchases for enhanced features and subscriptions.
- Customizable settings and integration with third-party apps.
- User-friendly interface with bot-assisted communication.
- New activities include the Amazon Music Listening Party.
- Ideal for personal use and community connections.
- Highly regarded as one of the best apps for teens to make friends and engage in community-building.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 196.2M |
| Downloads on the App Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 5M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 5.89M |
8. Wink
Wink is an app designed to help users make friends globally by matching them based on shared interests, age, and location. Users can chat, call, enhance profiles, and earn gems once they match.
Best Features:
- Free to use with optional in-app purchases.
- Frequent updates for bug fixes and stability.
- Global platform for Gen Z to connect with others.
- Foster friendships and a sense of community make it one of the ideal apps for teens to make friends.
- Exciting features include personalized profile badges to showcase interests and hobbies, a “Wink+” subscription for ultimate perks, and “Friendship Goals” features.
- Improved features for a secure and enjoyable experience with active users
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 510k+ |
| Downloads on the App Store | 5M+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 392k |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 10M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 111K |
9. Instagram
Everybody knows about Instagram as a free photo-sharing application and top-ranking social network platform. Besides the most loved platform for scrolling and connecting. Instagram is also considered the best platform to earn money as a teenager.
The platform’s active monthly users are over 2.4 billion. Which makes it the second most popularly downloaded free app after Facebook on the Apple App Store.
Best Features:
- Photo and reel sharing.
- Temporary stories.
- Interactive features integrate Reel Ads, shopping, and enhanced Tags.
- Safety and security features incorporate privacy Settings and online harassment protection.
- Ideal app for teens to make friends and connect with others.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 2.4B |
| Downloads on the App Store | 5B |
| Reviews on the App Store | 147M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 5B+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 156M |
10. Kik Messenger
If you ask me who is the best friend then I’ll say someone who is just a text away – one of the best qualities of a good friend. That’s why instant messaging apps like Kik Messenger enable you to connect with your friends. With its positive feedback on the App Store, Kik Messenger remains a popular choice for teens to connect and socialize in a cool and creative way.
Best Features:
- Free instant messaging app for mobile devices.
- Connect with friends by chatting, exchanging photos, sharing videos, and much more.
- Unique username.
- Fun features include group chats, stickers, and games.
- Additional features like Kik Codes for finding and connecting with friends easily and a renewed interface for better navigation.
- Positive user feedback on the App Store and featured as one of the best apps for teenage girls.
| Paid / Free | Free |
| Number of active users Monthly | 15M |
| Downloads on the App Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the App Store | 2M |
| Downloads on the Google Play Store | 100M+ |
| Reviews on the Google Play Store | 2.5M |
Final Words
All these apps to make friends for teens do more than just connect them – they can sometimes feel like mindless browsing, But they also offer valuable lessons on friendship goals and teach how to make friends as an introvert. As a teenager, you can easily find your soulmate through these platforms and it also helps you get better as a friend. Above all, learn to be your own best friend, building self-love, self-acceptance, and emotional well-being that will surely enrich your online and offline relationships.
About the Author: Rizwan Munir
