How Gen Z Makes Work Friends in a Remote World

The Work Bestie Drought Is Real (Especially Online)

Let’s be real—making friends at work was already tough. But now that most Gen Z employees are either fully remote or bouncing between coffee shops and Zoom calls in a hybrid setup, it’s gotten way harder. How are you supposed to vibe with someone you’ve never met IRL? No shared coffee breaks. No walking to lunch together. Just Slack, muted mics, and that one person whose camera is always off.

But here’s the truth: we’re the most digitally-native generation ever. If anyone can turn a GIF and a Google Doc into the foundation of a friendship—it’s us.

So how do we turn those virtual colleagues into actual connections? This is your Gen Z survival guide to making friends when the office is mostly in the cloud.

1. The Power of the DM: Start in the Chat

Forget big team calls. The real connections start in the DMs. Whether it’s Slack, Teams, or Discord—private messages are the new hallway convos.

You don’t have to come in hot with a full convo. Try reacting to their comment with a funny emoji or dropping a casual “Omg, same” to something they said in a team thread. Then ease into convos about anything—weekend plans, their favorite Spotify playlist, or whether that meeting could’ve been an email (because yes, it could).

Case in Point – Mateo, 23, Denver:
“I started chatting with a coworker after we both ranted about the same broken Jira ticket. Two months later, we’re sending each other Wordle scores daily and planning to meet IRL this summer.”

2. Normalize Random Check-ins

We’re not talking about cringe “let’s connect” LinkedIn energy. Gen Z friendship is built on low-key consistency. A quick message like “Yo, how’s your Monday going?” or “That meeting was wild lol” goes a long way.

Consistency builds trust. You don’t need deep convos from day one—just keep showing up, digitally.

Hot Tip: Be the person who celebrates the little wins. If they crushed a presentation, drop a “🔥 you killed it today.” That kind of support is magnetic.

3. Create Inside Jokes from Shared Struggles

Remote work has its own flavor of chaos: buffering Zooms, bad lighting, digital silence after “Any questions?”. These are prime meme material.

Screenshot a funny typo from the team chat (blur the name if needed), joke about Slack going down, or bond over mutual confusion in meetings. Inside jokes make people feel seen—even if you’re hundreds of miles apart.

4. Host a Micro Hangout, Not a Forced Happy Hour

Let’s kill the virtual happy hour for good. Instead, think micro moments—invite one or two coworkers to a 15-minute coffee chat. No agenda, no pressure.

You can also suggest a casual digital ritual like co-working playlists, a meme thread, or monthly “drop your pet pics” Zoom calls. Small, non-cringe group vibes beat awkward large Zooms every time.

Nina, 24, LA:
“I started a 'vibe check' channel where we just drop music recs and cursed images. It’s chaos and I love it.”

5. Show Up Authentically—But Protect Your Boundaries

You don’t have to overshare to connect. But showing pieces of your personality—whether it’s your plant obsession or anime wallpaper—makes people gravitate toward you.

At the same time, remote work can blur lines fast. Set boundaries early. If you’re not down for texting outside work hours, say it with love. And if someone’s pushing too hard? Mute, don’t ghost—but protect your peace.

6. Use Voice Notes, Not Just Text

Sometimes, it’s easier to connect when your voice comes into play. A quick voice note (“omg I just had a meeting where no one knew how to unmute 💀”) makes things feel more personal than another Slack message.

It’s like FaceTime energy—but async.

7. Plan to Meet IRL—If You're Down

If you're lucky enough to be close in location or attending a team offsite, don’t skip the chance to link up. There’s something next-level about finally seeing your meme buddy in 3D. But don’t force it—online friendships are valid and legit on their own.

Digital Bonds Are Still Real Bonds

Just because you met over Zoom doesn’t mean it’s not real. Gen Z knows that friendships can be born through Discord gaming, Twitter threads, or TikTok collabs—so why not Slack and Notion?

Remote and hybrid work don’t have to be lonely. You just need to stay open, stay low-key, and remember: the most powerful friendships sometimes start with a single laughing emoji.

Keep building your digital village—one DM at a time.

Stay connected with more Gen Z career tips, vibes, and remote survival hacks at Woke Waves Magazine.

#GenZRemoteWork #DigitalFriendship #MakingFriendsOnline #RemoteJobTips #WokeWavesGuide