Serious question: Anyone have any advice for making friends?

I stand by the belief that there are no strangers, only friends you're yet to meet so I chat to anyone. Talk about the weather, music, things you're doing later. I ask them what they do for a living and what kind of week they had. I made a lot of friends through community charity projects. I help out at a disco for adults with additional needs and also a community meal. Those sorts of projects are always in need of volunteers and it's a win win situation, it gets you out meeting people and you can also do good for your community at the same time.

It took me 30+ years, but I finally cracked the code.
I adopted a new hobby, and asked for people in a community hobby group to accompany me to the activity. That's how I got talking to new people.
Added them on IG and sent them memes off and on.
Keep it superficial and funny.
If you're not inherently funny like myself just hide behind memes like I do. IG is a life saviour in that regard.
And when you meet them in person, ask them about their life and their interests, and when they answer, ask something from the answer they just gave.
Keep the conversation light hearted, don't bring religion and politics into it, even as a joke.

Now, how to maintain the friendships is a totally different skill which I haven't mastered yet.

Hope this helps though.

That's some good advice CrazyChick21 gave you. I would also suggest getting a dog. Take it with you everywhere you can and to lits of dog parks. You can find group meet ups and meet people like that also.

Sometimes it helps to take your dog on a nice walk before showing up at a dog park, just to discharge any pent up behavior that may bring bad energy. But if you take it with you as much as you can, there shouldn't be any issues on your end when meeting new dogs

It can be difficult the older you get ...you could make friends at places of interest...conventions ...meetup groups etc

Unfortunately no, sorry. I'm in the same boat.

@TheArchivist ;-)