Face Time Instead of Facebook Time

These concerns were raised even before the masses began spending big chunks of their lives alone in front of their computers in virtual worlds such as Second Life and on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook . For example, a 1998 study ("Internet paradox. A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being?") by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University looked at the effects of Internet use on 169 people in 73 households during their first one to two years online.

Medium of Isolation

"In this sample, the Internet was used extensively for communication," according to the authors of the study. "Nonetheless, greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in participants' communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their depression and loneliness."

However, there is at least one Web site that strives to relieve loneliness by facilitating face-to-face contact with others: Meetup. It helps people find people who share the same interests not only on the other side of the world but also on the other side of the street, which is more important for the site's purposes.

Yes, There's a Group for That

"We want to see the world's people self-organize," according to Meetup. "We believe that people can change their world, or THE world, by organizing themselves into groups -- Meetups -- powerful enough to make a difference."

The slogan on Meetup is "Whatever your interest. Wherever you are." A quick glance at a few of the thousands of groups listed on the site (groups that hold more than 70,000 offline meetings a month) confirms the veracity of the motto, if not the ability or ambition of the groups to change the world:

• The Portland Dungeons & Dragons Meetup, founded about a year ago, invites users to "meet other local role-players for adventures and fun! Come to a meetup to find more players, find a DM (Dungeon Master), start a whole new group, or just to chat with like minds!" The group has 352 members who have held 40 face-to-face meetings so far.
• The Atlanta Area Black Stay At Home Moms Meetup invites users to "leave behind the housework and family worries, and come gather with other stay-at-home moms." This group has more than 500 members, and it has met 69 times since 2005. As you might expect, kids are welcome at the meetings.
• The Texas No Limit Hold Em Poker Meetup in San Diego was founded in January 2008. At this writing, the 10 members have yet to hold a meeting, but they hope to start a monthly game at a downtown condo rec room. When they do, users can get into the game with US$100; users can cash in and leave anytime.
• The Kansas City Witches Meetup, which has 540 members, welcomes users to a group "where you can meet, learn, teach, and socialize with other local people who are interested in Witchcraft, Wicca, Druidism, and other Pagan paths in our town. We meet in Westport, Overland Park, the Northland, Lee's Summit/Independence, and other locations throughout the month." The group has met more than 230 times since it was founded in 2002.

You also can find many groups outside the U.S. For example, the London Open Coffee Meetup, a group for entrepreneurs and investors, was founded in February 2007 and now has more than 1,100 members.

Other overseas groups might greet users with a hearty "konnichiwa," a Japanese phrase meaning "hello" or "good afternoon." But a few of them meet in some unexpected places. For example, the Brisbane (Australia) Japanese Language and Culture Meetup, which has 512 members, has met more than 260 times in the past five years.

No More Lonely Bowling

Meetup was founded in 2002. In a 2004 interview on nPost, Scott Heiferman, one of the Meetup founders, says a primary inspiration for the site was "the book Bowling Alone, which is by Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam about the decline of community in America and how people don't know their neighbors anymore. The Internet does a number of wonderful things, but it treats geography as irrelevant. We still live in a world where the local level is extremely important."

Meetup gained significant national attention during the run for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination when it served as a hub for local groups that generated grass-roots support for Howard Dean and other Democratic hopefuls. Users still can find many groups on the site that focus on politics, but Meetup is strictly "nonpartisan and nondenominational," according to an online note. "We believe that everyone should have access to a meetup about most anything," though "there are a few exceptions for hate- and adult-related topics."

In 2005, the site's main source of revenue changed from listing fees paid by meeting venues to subscriptions paid by group organizers. The switch initially drew a lot of criticism, and the site lost half of its activity, but today Meetup claims about 2.5 million members.

Group organizers pay $19 a month, $45 for three months, or $72 for six months. Some organizers recoup their costs by accepting PayPal contributions or passing the hat at meetings. Users don't have to pay anything to create an account or to join a group on the site.

How to Find, Join and Start a Meetup

To find a group to join, users can search by keyword or browse through categories that include Internet & Technology, Pets, Hobbies, Film/TV, Cultures & Community, Work & Career, Games, Health, and Music.

After users find a topic they like, they can visit its worldwide homepage and enter their specific city or ZIP code to find groups that meet nearby. Meetup.com also lets users search "Meetups by City" to find all the groups nearby regardless of topic, and users can sign up to be notified when new groups are created in their area.

The site encourages users "to attend a Meetup Event just to listen in, check it out, and gather information. Meetup Groups welcome interested newcomers. There's no obligation to join or participate."

Those who decide to become members can join a group through the site simply by clicking a "SIGN UP FOR THIS MEETUP" button. There is no limit to the number of Meetups users can join. The site lets users communicate with other members through email, message boards, and mailing lists. Mailing list options include receiving messages from everyone in a group as they are sent, receiving a Daily Digest that contains messages from everyone once a day, or receiving messages only from group organizers and assistant organizers.

A user can create his or her own Meetup in just a few simple steps, including entering billing information and writing a description of the user's group. Then the user can start it immediately. Users can get tips on attracting members, and the site will notify anyone who has signed up to get information on new groups in the area.

Whether users want to start a Meetup or join one that's been getting together for several years, the site (unlike MySpace and Facebook) makes it easy for users to meet people online and helps them learn more about the things of interest to them. It also motivates users to turn off the computer and get out of the house once in a while.