Dinner with a Stranger: Reimagining Friendship in the Digital Age
At Glasgow University, a unique student-led initiative called Dinner with a Stranger (DWAS) is challenging traditional ways of making friends by introducing a novel “friendship lottery” concept. Founded by Juliette Sartori and her flatmates, the society aims to help students expand their social circles in an increasingly digital and isolated world.
Juliette, a 21-year-old international student from the US, noticed that students were becoming less connected due to digital interactions. What started as a whimsical idea quickly gained traction, with 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students signing up in the first month.
The DWAS approach differs significantly from dating apps. Instead of algorithmic matching, the group uses monthly personality quizzes to pair participants. Students answer questions about topics like favorite music genres or dream holiday destinations. Then, Juliette and five others manually match participants, creating opportunities for genuine connections.
Mary Yiorkadji, another DWAS organizer, believes social media has negatively impacted friendships. “People are lonelier now,” she says, highlighting how online comparisons can create unrealistic expectations and feelings of isolation. For her, DWAS offers a unique way to meet people beyond superficial differences.
The initiative has already produced meaningful connections. Vanya and Hannah, second-year students paired by DWAS, became best friends and eventually flatmates. Hannah notes that society often overlooks the importance of platonic relationships, and their friendship has significantly improved her mental health and confidence.
Juliette sees this as more than just a student project. She believes friendship dating will become increasingly relevant as remote work and study make organic social interactions more challenging. Some dating apps are already developing friendship-focused features, suggesting a broader societal shift.
The core philosophy of DWAS is about creating genuine connections without preconceived expectations. Participants approach meetings with open minds, focusing on similarities rather than differences. This approach allows for more authentic interactions in an era dominated by digital communication.
For Juliette, the initiative is about finding “her people” and normalizing intentional friendship-building. She views it as a “modern way of making friends” that transforms online connection strategies into meaningful real-world relationships.
As remote work and study become more common, initiatives like DWAS offer a promising solution to growing social isolation. By encouraging face-to-face interactions and providing structured opportunities to meet new people, the society demonstrates that meaningful connections can still be formed in the digital age.
The success of Dinner with a Stranger suggests a growing appetite for more intentional, genuine social interactions among younger generations, challenging traditional notions of how friendships are formed.
