Apps for chatting with new people: communities by topic and groups in your city.

Whether you've moved to a new city, started working from home, or simply want to talk about what you enjoy with like-minded people, your cell phone solves this with three apps that bring together communities by topic: Discord, Telegram, and Reddit. None of them are dating apps. They are group chat spaces, organized by theme, where you join, read, participate, and, over time, meet people who share the same interests.

By the end of this guide, you will know where to find communities for games, series, music, programming, running, cooking, or your own city; how to join without exposing your phone number; and how to behave in the first few days to be well received. You will also learn the safety rules that apply to any conversation with strangers online: what never to share, when to block, and how to report.

All three apps are free on Google Play and coexist on the same phone without conflict. Each has its own way of communicating: Discord is the chat room with voice and text, Telegram is the messaging group, and Reddit is the comment forum. You can use just one or combine all three, depending on where the community you're looking for is located.

1. Discord: servers with text and voice channels for every topic.

Discord organizes conversations into servers. Each server is an independent community, with separate text and voice channels organized by topic: one channel for introductions, another for questions, another for general chat, and another for voice calls while the group plays, studies, or watches something together. You can join as many servers as you want, and each one functions like a separate club, with its own rules, moderators, and roles that identify who is a newcomer, an active member, or an administrator.

Discord - Chat and Play

Android

4,5(7 million reviews)

500 million+ downloads

View on Google Play

The starting point is the search. Explore servers, This lists public communities by category: games, music, education, science and technology, entertainment. Smaller servers, such as a college class or a running group in your city, usually require an invitation link that someone shares elsewhere. When joining, read the rules and welcome messages before writing anything; many servers ask you to react to a message or choose roles to unlock other channels.

1. Install Discord from the Google Play Store and create an account with your email, username, and password. Your username is what people see; it doesn't have to be your full name.
2. Tap the compass icon, Explore servers, and type the subject you are looking for. Open the server, view the description, the number of members, and recent activity.
3. Tap on To enter. Read the rules channel, do what it asks to unlock the other channels, and write a short introduction in the designated channel.
4. Spend a few days reading. Answer questions you know the answer to, react to messages, and observe who the most active people are.
5. To enter a voice channel, tap on it and then on... Join the call. Use headphones to avoid echo and leave the microphone in push-to-talk mode if the environment is noisy.
6. In User settings > Privacy, Define who can send you direct messages and who can add you as a friend. Start by restricting it to members of the same servers.

What to expect: on large servers, the conversation moves quickly and you can only follow a few channels; mute the ones you're not interested in by tapping and holding the channel name. On small servers, the pace is slower and the same people show up every day, which makes it easier to build rapport. Voice calls are the big differentiator: that's where the conversation stops being text-based and becomes something like a group of friends in a chat room.

Limitations: The quality of the community depends on the moderators, so servers without clear rules tend to become chaotic. Voice calls require headphones and a stable connection. And direct messages from strangers are the most common channel for scams, so the privacy settings in step 6 are mandatory before joining your first server.

2. Telegram: Public groups without showing your phone number.

Telegram is a messaging app, but what's interesting here are the public groups: open communities, easily found through search, about practically any subject, including cities and neighborhoods. There are groups for buying and selling locally, for residents of the same neighborhood, for fans of a particular series, for students preparing for competitive exams, and for owners of the same car model. Since the app is widely used in Brazil, the chance of finding an active group about your interests in your region is high.

Telegram

Android

3,9(17.2 million reviews)

1 billion+ downloads

View on Google Play

The account is created using the phone number, but that doesn't mean other members will see it. Settings > Privacy and security > Phone number, choice Nobody. Next, create a username in Settings > UsernameThis is how people will find you, and your number will be invisible. This adjustment takes a minute and should be made before joining any group.

1. Install Telegram and confirm your number using the code you received.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Phone number and mark Nobody. In the same menu, adjust Groups and channels to My contacts, That way, nobody adds you to groups unless you choose to join.
3. Create a short username without any personal information.
4. Tap the magnifying glass and search for the topic or city name. The results show groups and channels; groups allow you to chat, channels only allow you to read.
5. Open the group, read the description and the pinned message at the top, which usually contains the rules, and tap on To enter.
6. Introduce yourself in one sentence and, in the first few days, participate by responding to what is already being discussed instead of bringing up new topics.
7. Tap on the group name and use Mute to choose when you want to receive notifications; large groups receive many messages per day.

What to expect: Telegram is most similar to a regular cell phone conversation. Messages arrive in real time, you can reply by quoting someone, send audio, photos, and stickers. City groups are usually the best place to find out about local events, in-person hobby meetups, and service recommendations. Themed groups function like a continuous chat between people who like the same subject, with people joining and leaving all the time.

Limitations: Telegram's search shows groups by name, so the best group doesn't always appear first; often the link comes from someone's recommendation. Open groups attract spam and ads, and moderation depends on the administrators. If a group is full of ads, leave and look for another; there are many on the same topic.

3. Reddit: topic-based forums where conversations happen in the comments.

Reddit works differently: instead of a chat, it's a forum. Each community is called a subreddit and has a name that starts with r/. Someone posts a question, a photo, a text, or a link, and the conversation happens in the comments of that post. Members vote on posts and comments, and the most voted ones move up. This changes the pace: you don't need to be online at the right time, because the discussion is recorded and can continue for days.

Reddit

Android

4,7(4.8 million reviews)

100 million+ downloads

View on Google Play

There are subreddits on every imaginable topic, as well as subreddits for Brazilian countries, states, and cities, where residents exchange tips about transportation, neighborhoods, restaurants, and events. There are communities in Portuguese and English, and most accept writers of any level. Accounts are created with an email address and a username; no one asks for a phone number, photo, or real name, and the custom is precisely to avoid using personal identification.

1. Install Reddit, create an account with your email, and choose a username that doesn't reveal who you are.
2. On the home screen, tap the magnifying glass and search for the topic. Open the community and tap on it. To participate So that her posts appear in your feed.
3. Open the tab On Join the community and read the rules. Each subreddit has its own, and posts that violate the rules are removed by moderators.
4. Start by commenting. Answer other people's questions, share an experience, give an opinion. Well-written comments receive votes and replies.
5. When you want to start a discussion, tap on To create, Choose the community, write a clear title and text with context. Specific questions yield more answers than vague questions.
6. When someone replies to your comment, a notification will appear in your inbox. Continue the conversation there; if the exchange is fruitful, there's a direct chat option, but only accept conversations from people you've already seen participating in the community.

What to expect: Reddit is the best of the three for those who prefer to chat at their own pace and about a specific topic. Responses tend to be longer and more detailed than in a chat room, and it's common to find people who are very knowledgeable about the subject. City communities are useful for discovering in-person events and groups, and many organize member meetups.

Limitations: the conversation is public and recorded, so anything you write can be read by anyone. Since it's a forum, it takes longer to build connections with specific people than in a voice chat. And a large portion of the overall content is in English, so some communities require reading in that language.

Safety: rules for any conversation with strangers.

Interest-based communities are excellent places to meet people, but the same openness that allows this attracts scammers. The rules below apply to all three apps without exception.

• Never share your phone number, address, workplace, or routine. At no point during the first few weeks is this necessary for conversation. Anyone who insists on having your number or knowing where you live is asking for something a new friendship doesn't need.
• Keep the conversation within the app. A request to quickly migrate to another channel, especially right at the beginning, is a classic sign of a scam, because outside of the community there are no moderators.
• Money is never part of the conversation. Requests for loans, recharges, gifts, investments, or emergency assistance are grounds for immediate blocking, no matter how convincing the story.
• Do not click on links sent via direct message. by people you don't know, even if they seem to be from your own community.
• Block and report. All three apps have both options in the person's profile or in the message. Blocking ends the contact; reporting alerts moderation and protects other members. Use both.
• In-person meetings are only allowed in public places., During the day, with someone who knows your location, and preferably at a community event with several people around.
• Photos and data of minors are not circulated. If you have children, they will not appear in your profile, introduction, or conversation.

Comparison: Which app is right for you?

Step by step: from installation to making your first friend in a community

The guide below is for those who have arrived in a new city and want to find people with the same hobby. It combines the three apps, but also works with just one.

1. Define a specific interest. "Meeting people" is vague; "street running group," "people who play the same game," or "people who are studying for the same exam" provide a more precise search.
2. Install Discord, Telegram, and Reddit from Google Play. Create accounts with usernames that don't reveal your full name, city, or age.
3. On Telegram, hide your phone number (Settings > Privacy and security > Phone number > Nobody) and create a username. On Discord, restrict direct messages to members of the same servers. On Reddit, leave your profile picture blank.
4. On Telegram, search for your city's name along with your area of interest. Join one or two groups, read the pinned message, and introduce yourself in one sentence.
5. On Reddit, find the subreddit for your city or state and the one for your hobby. Tap "Join" and read the most upvoted posts of the week to get a sense of the tone.
6. On Discord, use the Explore servers section for your hobby. Prefer servers with visible rules, a presentation channel, and recent activity.
7. Set aside the first three days just for reading. Make a note of who answers questions patiently and what times of day are busiest.
8. Starting on the fourth day, comment every day in at least one conversation. Answer when you know the answer, ask questions when you don't, and thank those who helped.
9. When an in-person meeting organized by the group comes up, go. Choose those that take place in a public place with several people, and let someone you trust know.
10. If someone starts a direct conversation about your hobby, respond within the app. If you see a request for your phone number, money, or a suspicious link, block and report them.
11. After two weeks, leave the groups that weren't productive and stay in the ones that were. A good community is one you join willingly, not out of obligation.

Common mistakes

• Joining ten groups on the first day and not following any of them closely is more rewarding. Two or three well-chosen groups yield better results.
• Write before reading the rules. The first message removed by a moderator creates a bad impression that is difficult to reverse.
• Bringing up a personal topic with someone you've only seen once. Friendship within a community is born from participation in the group, not from direct messaging.
• Make your phone number visible on Telegram. It's the most overlooked setting and the one that exposes you the most.
• Using the same photo and username from other networks allows anyone to cross-reference profiles and discover information you haven't shared.
• Keep notifications turned on in large groups. Your phone vibrates all day and you end up leaving a good community out of exhaustion.
• Ignore the signs of a scam out of politeness. Blocking isn't rude; it's the intended use of the tool.
• Giving up in the first week. Building relationships takes time, and people notice those who show up consistently.

Frequently asked questions

Are these dating apps?

No. Discord, Telegram, and Reddit are community platforms focused on specific topics. People join to discuss an interest, and friendships develop from that. Those who use these spaces to approach strangers with romantic intentions are usually removed by moderators.

Do I need to show my phone number?

No. Discord and Reddit create accounts using email addresses. Telegram uses phone numbers for registration, but in Privacy and Security you can set it so that no one can see it, and contact is then made by username.

How do I find groups in my city?

On Telegram, search for the city or neighborhood name. On Reddit, look for the city or state subreddit. On Discord, local groups are usually closed, and invitations are often sent by referrals from existing members, frequently shared on the other two apps.

Is it safe to join a voice call with strangers?

Yes, as long as you don't share personal information and leave if the atmosphere becomes uncomfortable. The voice channel is public within the server, usually with moderators present, and you can mute or block any participant.

How do I block and report someone?

In all three apps, tap the person's name or photo to open their profile; there you'll find the Block and Report options. You can also report a specific message by tapping and holding on it. Do both: one protects you, the other protects the community.

What if I'm too shy to write?

Start by reacting to messages and answering objective questions. On Reddit, commenting on other people's posts is the most comfortable way to begin, because nobody expects an immediate response. Voice communication can come when you already know the people on the server.

With Discord, Telegram, and Reddit installed and configured, you have three gateways to communities about what you like and where you live, without exposing your phone number or address. Choose an interest, join two or three groups, read before writing, and participate regularly. If the idea is to go beyond Portuguese and talk to people from other countries while practicing a language, the next guide shows you how to do that: How to talk to foreigners on your cell phone and practice languages..