Friendship over 60: new friends who enjoy what you enjoy

Can I use Single 60s just to make friends?

Yes. Friendship is one of the options you can pick for what you are looking for, right at the start. The daily suggestions take it into account, so you are put in touch with people who want the same, whether that is a pen pal, someone to walk with or a companion for theater trips.

Friendships can thin out after 60, and it is rarely anyone's fault. Colleagues drift away after retirement. Friends move to be near their grandchildren. A divorce splits a social circle in two, and losing a husband or wife can leave you outside a world of couples' dinners. Making new friends as an adult is harder than it sounds, because the easy places to meet people, the school gate and the office, are gone.

A site made for people over 60 helps because everybody on it is open to meeting someone new. You do not have to explain yourself or wonder whether the other person is interested in a conversation. They joined for the same reason you did.

What friendship on the site looks like

For some people it stays on the screen: a regular exchange of messages about books, gardens or the news, with someone whose company they enjoy. For others it moves to the phone, and then to coffee, a walk or a concert. Some find a friend to travel with, which matters to anyone who has put off a cruise or a weekend away because they did not want to go alone. A few friendships turn into something more over time. None of these is the wrong result.

Making it clear you want friends

Choose friendship as what you are looking for, and say it in your own words too. A line such as "I would love someone to go to matinees with" tells people exactly what you mean and gives them an easy way to reply. Add the interests you would like to share. On a site where the interests include cruises, documentaries, handicrafts, DIY and volunteering, there is usually somebody who shares yours. Our profile tips help with the wording.

Group chats and chat rooms

VIP members can join the site's chat rooms and set up private group chats of up to 50 people, which makes it easy to arrange a walk or a lunch with several people at once rather than a one-to-one meeting. Free members can post status updates, comment on other members' posts and take part in polls, which is a gentle way to get talking.

Friendship needs the same care as dating

Most people who say they want friendship mean it. A few use it as a softer way in, so the same sensible rules apply: keep early conversations on the site, never send money, and meet somewhere public the first time. The safety page explains what the site does to help.