30 Hooks to Message Your Friends
Remember to reach out to your friends. Here are some ideas.
Random Observation/Comment #871: Do I want Clembot to manage my social life?
//Proof of Selfie from EthDenver 2025
Why this List?
Sometimes you need an excuse to reach out to your friends. Other times, you’re just an outgoing person that likes pinging friends. For me, I’ve created a system of tying my random interests to common hooks that particular friends/groups might be interested in. I started writing this list as a regular ideation of sharing knowledge and love, but it quickly became my own list of prompts and personal identity interests across all my digital consumption areas. It reminded me of this post:
If you’re writing this list for yourself, think about your combined interests with your individual friends and groups. This list also wound up being a review of the digital, physical, and social things I care about.
Memory photo - Texting a friend about that time we hung out years ago. Every photo has context from different activities, and it’s an easy way to revisit great times.
Birthday wishes, but strategic - A day-before birthday text so you stand out from the flood is a good strategy. You can also do a belated birthday message to keep the celebration going.
Holidays as a catch-all – Sometimes generic, sometimes deep. I use these as a pulse check for where our lives are at. Usually a Happy Thanksgiving, Happy New Year, and Happy Lunar New Year combination.
Group activities with kiddos – Kid playdates, birthday parties, or even just "Hey, our kids should be friends now." Usually the Dads are friends first.
Memes that hit just right – The ones that are an inside joke between exactly three people in your life.
Reels scrolling and DMs across many subjects – Instagram/TikTok/YouTube Shorts… it’s just the new way to talk now. Reels sharing is my love language with a few people.
News articles that feel personal – AI, crypto, economic trends, or hyper-niche topics we love to debate.
Comedy bits that remind me of you – A stand-up clip or an SNL sketch that fits our shared humor perfectly.
Travel memories and bucket lists – "Remember that trip?" or "We should actually plan this next one."
Reposting absurd Twitter/X threads – Sometimes just to ask, “Do people actually think like this?” I feel like Buzzfeed knows me so well.
Random Reddit rabbit holes – Conspiracies, hobbies, or an AITA post that needs an urgent verdict. Reddit lurking is such a great passtime.
Funny Dad jokes or comedy skits – Especially if it’s painfully relatable to our current life stage. Parenting jokes are the best.
Food photos that scream “we need to eat here” – Sometimes it’s my own cooking, sometimes it's aspirational. We do have a Dad group with all the tools.
Cooking recipes I’ll never actually make – But sending them makes me feel one step closer. I did like that French Onion soup though.
Relatable parenting things – Mostly stuff that reminds me I’m not alone.
Interesting AI websites or tools – I personally love just creating random things.
Face swaps and AI-generated absurdity – Because seeing your friend’s face on a Renaissance painting never gets old.
//Faceswap of myself with Mona Lisa. Classic.
Restaurant spots we should totally try – A ping for when I inevitably forget where I wanted to go. I also just like asking some friends who are local where they like to go for date nights.
Crypto / Web3 – This used to be frequent, now it’s mostly for “wtf is happening?” moments.
Trade movements and market shifts – Let’s trade the VIX!
Disc golf shots or new courses – “This hole in one is ridiculous. Also, we should play soon.”
Fun family selfies – Mostly a reminder that life is happening, and it’s good.
Friday beer pic tradition – The modern “cheers,” whether in-person or virtual.
Friend group selfies saying “we miss you” – A classic way to guilt-trip the missing members.
Natural disaster check-ins – A serious one, but sometimes the first time I’ve talked to someone in a few months.
Sharing a good deal with my parents – Because they love a solid discount more than anything.
Inside jokes that resurface out of nowhere – The ones that live rent-free in our heads for decades.
Random deep thoughts that need a second brain – Existential or just practical life decisions. It’s been a while since I’ve seen something as impactful as “Die with Zero.”
Music or playlist sharing – “This reminded me of you” is always a great conversation starter.
No excuse at all, just catching up – Because sometimes you just have to say, “Hey, how’s life?”
~See Lemons Catch Up with Friends