New Apps Help You Make Friends At Bars

Is everyone having trouble making friends? In the past two days, TechCrunch has reported on two new bar-themed applications that help users meet new people.

Let's Drink Tonight, developed at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon, rounds up drinking buddies at any time. Users select their location, connect with Facebook, and answer some key personality-revealing questions (i.e. What is the craziest place you've ended up after drinking?). The program texts you when there's somebody looking to grab a beer.

Then there's Shaker, which brings Facebook into a bar setting. In a Second Life cross-over, users sign in with Facebook and a wall displays connections and friends of friends. People chat as avatars, choose music, and buy virtual drinks. It's not exactly a crazy night on the town, but Shaker's creators hope people will end up planning outings together, instead of staying in and downing virtual shots.

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