In today’s rapidly changing social landscape, the quest for genuine connections has become increasingly challenging. This has led to the emergence of innovative approaches designed to facilitate friendship formation, particularly among students. One notable initiative is the “Dinner with a Stranger” society, spearheaded by Juliette Sartori and her colleague Mary Yiorkadji at the University of Glasgow. This initiative aims to bridge the gap created by social media and the prevalent loneliness felt among young people.
Juliette Sartori, originally from the United States, moved to Scotland to study business and management and quickly recognized the difficulties she faced in forging meaningful relationships. The prevalent culture of digital communication often leaves individuals feeling isolated, as many students struggle to break down the emotional walls that prevent genuine interactions. After experiencing personal success on a coffee date with a group of strangers, Juliette and her flatmates organically established the Dinner with a Stranger society. Initially expecting only a modest turnout of about thirty participants, they were pleasantly surprised when two hundred individuals, including undergraduate and postgraduate students of various identities, signed up within the first month.
The society’s premise is simple yet effective: it offers a platform for students to engage with others outside their usual circles. This is distinctly different from the conventional dating apps that dominate today’s culture, as it emphasizes platonic relationships rather than romantic connections. Central to this initiative is a unique friendship lottery system. Participants fill out personality quizzes focused on various themes—music preferences, favorite movies, and dream vacations—that allows Juliette and her team to curate meaningful connections based on shared interests.
Mary Yiorkadji, hailing from Cyprus, joined Juliette in this endeavor and quickly discovered that many students shared her struggles of feeling isolated in an unfamiliar environment. As a fourth-year student majoring in economics and philosophy, she notes the detrimental effects of social media on personal interactions. With endless comparisons to idealized lives presented online, young people today navigate heightened feelings of loneliness and unfulfilled expectations. Mary believes programs like Dinner with a Stranger offer a refreshing and transformative approach to friendship—a unique blend of old-fashioned matchmaking tailored for modern times.
Real-life experiences from participants reveal the profound impact that these friendship dates can have. Vanya and Hannah, who met through the society, attribute their newfound friendship to this innovative program. Hannah, originally from Manchester, described her previous loneliness before meeting Vanya, emphasizing the importance of companionship beyond romantic partnerships. Their testimony illustrates a fundamental truth: society often values romantic relationships over platonic ones, neglecting the immense importance of friendship in overall well-being.
Juliette remains optimistic about the future of the society, seeing in it a pioneering effort that may evolve into mainstream friendship matchmaking. She specifically mentions how remote work and online learning have reshaped social interactions, making traditional opportunities to meet new people increasingly rare. With the rise of dating apps extending their reach into friend-making territory, Juliette envisions that the concept of friendship dates will gain traction as people recognize the importance of investing in platonic relationships.
By embracing the concept of meeting new friends in a fun and low-pressure environment, programs like Dinner with a Stranger prove that not only is friendship-making necessary in today’s world, but it can also be an engaging and enriching experience. As society continues to grapple with the challenges of connectivity, the importance of fostering relationships—whether romantic or platonic—remains a crucial aspect of the human experience. Through innovative initiatives, students like Juliette and Mary are redefining the way we think about and pursue companionship, paving the way for a more connected future.
