A software developer in Istanbul starts working from home at 9 AM, takes lunch from the fridge, and closes his laptop at 6 PM. He has no office colleagues during the week — only Slack notifications. His social life has gradually narrowed, and it took him six months to notice.
The remote work arrangement that began during the pandemic has become permanent in Turkey. Especially in technology, design, marketing, and consulting sectors, full or partial remote work is now the norm. While this transformation has made work life easier, it has complicated social life — especially when it comes to meeting new people.
What Was the Social Role of the Office?
The office is not just a place to work. It is a social infrastructure. Coffee breaks, lunch, project discussions, and brief hallway chats — all of these are unintentional socialization opportunities. Research shows that a significant portion of friendships and romantic relationships formed at work begin in these "accidental" moments.
Remote work eliminates this structure. Relationships with team members still exist, but they are mostly screen-bound and work-focused. New encounters become almost entirely dependent on the individual's active effort.
Social Isolation Map of Remote Workers in Turkey
Not everyone carries the same risk. A few profiles stand out:
- New arrivals: Someone who has recently moved to a big city like Istanbul or Ankara and works remotely has neither a connection to the city nor an office. The most vulnerable group.
- Remote workers in small cities: Those living in İzmir, Eskişehir, or a smaller city while working remotely for a company in a big city. Their social circles are limited, and event life is low.
- Long-term solo remote workers: Those who have been working remotely for three to four years, with social circles gradually shrinking unnoticed.
Building a New Social Circle: Real Options
Realistic ways for remote workers in Turkey to build a social circle include:
Coworking Spaces
The number of coworking spaces in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir has increased in recent years. These places offer not just workspace but also social infrastructure. Even weekly memberships can be enough to meet a few new faces within a week. There are many coworking spaces in Kadıköy, Şişli, and Beşiktaş; in Ankara, Kızılay and Çankaya stand out.
Advantage: Meeting people with similar lifestyles in a natural environment. Disadvantage: Socializing at a coworking space where you come with a heavy workload requires intentional effort.
Hobby and Event Groups
Meetup.com and Instagram event groups are actively used in Turkey. Photography, hiking, chess, language learning, book clubs — these groups provide both common interests and organic meeting grounds. There is a wealth of options in Istanbul; in smaller towns, creating these groups may be easier than finding them.
Online Communities and Local Extensions
Discord servers, Slack communities, and industry-specific WhatsApp groups are active social spaces for remote workers in Turkey. These online communities occasionally organize physical meetups — this bridge is one of the most practical mechanisms for breaking social isolation.
Special Value of Dating Platforms for Remote Workers
For remote workers, dating platforms are becoming functional not only for romantic purposes but also for expanding social circles. This usage is increasing in Turkey: users who check the "friendship possible" option are genuinely seeking new social connections.
Advantages offered by platforms in this context:
- Location filtering: finding people in the same neighborhood or city.
- Interest matching: highlighting people with similar hobbies or values.
- Easy to start: sending a message instead of face-to-face first contact poses fewer barriers for those with social anxiety.
A Practical Weekly Socializing Routine
To keep social life vibrant while working remotely, the following weekly structure provides a sustainable framework:
- Work at a coworking space or café at least two days a week — a physical outlet to avoid being cooped up at home.
- Attend at least one event per week — hobby group, sports, book club, it doesn't matter.
- Maintain a level of digital socialization — online communities can be actively followed, but this does not replace face-to-face contact.
- Be active on a dating platform — even starting a few conversations a week expands your social network.
Symptoms of Social Isolation: It Can Be Hard to Notice
For remote workers, social isolation usually develops gradually, not suddenly. Weeks pass, social outings decrease, and home becomes increasingly comfortable and limiting. A few warning signs:
- You find yourself looking for a "reason" to call someone and chat.
- You need to come up with a justification to leave the house on weekends.
- You haven't met a new person in the last three months.
- You have a habit of postponing invitations to social events.
These signs require attention — but they are not a diagnosis. It is possible to break out of this cycle with intentional social activity.
Platforms specific to Turkey like Viyamore offer a starting point for remote workers to connect with people in the same city and lifestyle. In a life without an office, a social circle does not form spontaneously; but with a little intention and the right tools, it can be built.