I've always been a bit shy and awkward in social situations, and as a result, I have a hard time making friends. I have a few acquaintances at work that I chat with and occasionally go out to lunch with, but beyond that, I don't have much of a social life. Truth be told, I'm getting tired of sitting at home alone every weekend or going to dinner and movies by myself. I'd like to start meeting new people and building up a group of friends, so I've been checking out various online singles and networking sites.

Just a few years ago, I probably would have balked at the idea of meeting new people online. But since computers and the Internet are such a major part of everyone's lives these days, it seems perfectly natural to form friendships and other connections via the web. This has become a perfectly acceptable way of meeting new people, and there's no stigma attached to these types of relationships at all.

Anyway, I've been spending some time figuring out the best places to forge friendships on the Internet, and have come up with three terrific options to try. First, there are dating websites where the goal is to find potential love interests. I can create a profile, post pictures, and say a few words about what I'm looking for in a significant other. Some of these dating websites are free to join, while others require a membership fee. Either way, this seems like a sure-fire way of meeting new people, so I'm going to register at a few of these sites to see how it goes.

I've also learned that joining hobby-related message boards or discussion groups is another fantastic way of meeting new people online. Most message boards and discussion groups are 100 percent free to join, and give you an opportunity to talk about your favorite pastimes with those who share your enthusiasm. Like cats? Join a pet owners forum to trade tips, photos, and anecdotes about your favorite feline. Love football? There are plenty of gridiron groups where you can discuss your favorite team all season long.

And another way I'm going to try meeting new people is through social networking websites like Facebook or MySpace. These sites are also free to join and fun to use, so it shouldn't be hard to make a bunch of friends that way. Plus, social networking sites are great for reconnecting with old friends and classmates as well. There are a couple of old high school buddies I wouldn't mind looking up, and this would be the perfect way to do it.

Overall, it seems that meeting new people online is going to be much easier for me than doing so in person. I'm open to trying all these different ways of making friends, and fully expect my social circle to expand greatly in the near future!