Why does it feel harder than ever to actually make real connections?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, but it feels like we have more ways than ever to connect and somehow it’s harder to actually meet people.

You can spend hours on apps, scrolling or messaging, and still end up with no real plans. Conversations don’t go anywhere, people flake, or it just never turns into actually meeting in person. It’s especially noticeable if you’re in a new city or don’t already have a solid social circle.

It feels like most things are still built around existing networks, so if you don’t already know people, it’s weirdly hard to break in.

I’ve even been trying to build something around this idea recently, just because the problem feels so real, but I’m curious if others feel the same way or if I’m overthinking it.

What has actually worked for you when it comes to meeting people and building real connections?