i recently read an article in the guardian about how casual conversations with strangers are becoming increasingly rare. the piece argued that smartphones and post-pandemic habits have made people less likely to interact with strangers in everyday places.
this made me think about my own situation....
this made me think about my own situation. i have been fortunate to meet many great people through university and work, and i generally feel comfortable talking with people in those environments. but outside of structured settings it is a different story. i live in sweden, where approaching strangers in public is already culturally uncommon. it can feel even harder if you did not grow up here and do not already have established social circles. public spaces often feel socially “closed”. people are polite but tend to keep to themselves.
so i am curious how others approach this today. how do you meet new people outside of work or school in 2026? do you ever start conversations with strangers in public, and if so how? are there environments where this works better than others? for people living in more reserved cultures (like scandinavia), what strategies have worked for you? would love to hear what has worked for others.
:o)
Comments
Right now on the front page: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47142183
Also interesting and somewhat related: https://pudding.cool/2025/06/hello-stranger/
If you struggle with small talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRG-YubP1rw
But to give a piece of advice not from a URL, is there any interest you have which other people may share and gather for? If you like games, for example, a local game shop is a good place to meet others. There’s usually always someone there, they tend to be welcoming to newcomers, and having something to do (play a game) can make you forget some of the awkwardness.
By nwhnwh 2026-03-025:47 These videos... are an insult to humanity. Life and humans are more complex than that.
By muzani 2026-03-0122:57 Haha, my first thought was why didn't OP just read the comments on the article? Didn't occur to me that someone on HN was finding articles through a source other than HN :3
By wanderingpixel 2026-03-023:341 reply You might receive a lot of well-intended advice that does not take into account the social context of Scandinavia, which is a particularly hard nut to crack when it comes to casual conversations with people you don't know.
Swedes seem to be context-driven in this regard. There are certain places and activities where it's OK to strike up small talk, outside of those accepted situations, they keep to themselves. One I have found is sports, this winter I've had casual chats with about 80% of the people I come across at my local ski trails. But it's mostly at the starting point or at the car park, not while you're training. Another one is regular organised activities, e.g. check out your local friluftsfrämjandet, or activities around specific interests and hobbies, and show up somewhat consistently. Every kommun will typically have a registry of local clubs on their website, it's called a föreningsregister, read through it and see if something strikes your fancy.
Luckily, as foreigners, we typically get a bit of a pass for not being entirely up to snuff with the social rules, but knowing some Swedish will help you.
Good luck !
By tavro 2026-03-0219:22 > You might receive a lot of well-intended advice that does not take into account the social context of Scandinavia, which is a particularly hard nut to crack when it comes to casual conversations with people you don't know.
preach -- agreed!
> One I have found is sports, this winter I've had casual chats with about 80% of the people I come across at my local ski trails. But it's mostly at the starting point or at the car park, not while you're training. Another one is regular organised activities, e.g. check out your local friluftsfrämjandet, or activities around specific interests and hobbies, and show up somewhat consistently. Every kommun will typically have a registry of local clubs on their website, it's called a föreningsregister, read through it and see if something strikes your fancy.
thanks, this is great advice! i will make sure to check it out. i actually tried something similar recently. the thing is, i often end up doing these kinds of activities with my current friends, which naturally reduces my incentive to approach new people. that is not a bad thing, of course, but it does mean i am not really meeting anyone new. maybe i should try going to some activities on my own and see what happens.
> Luckily, as foreigners, we typically get a bit of a pass for not being entirely up to snuff with the social rules, but knowing some Swedish will help you.
i actually speak Swedish fluently, it is my first language, so it is not really the issue. it is more about figuring out how to approach people without feeling like i am bothering them or coming across as annoying, and finding new ways to start those interactions.
By idontwantthis 2026-03-020:14 I love starting conversations with strangers. People usually love getting a genuine, non-creepy compliment. I think the key is to not force it into a conversation if they don't pick it up. Just leave off if they don't seem to want to continue talking.
