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. 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)