The most common opening line in online chat is also the least effective. It puts all the work on the other person. A good opener does the opposite — it makes replying easy.
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Specific beats generic every time.
"What's something weird that happened to you this week?" is infinitely better than "how are you?" Specificity signals genuine curiosity. Generic questions signal autopilot.
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Open with an observation, not a question.
"I've been thinking about whether anyone actually enjoys Mondays or if it's all performance" gives them something to react to. Reactions are easier than answers.
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Use your shared context.
On interest-based platforms like Chatrio, mention the shared interest immediately. "We both picked travel — what's the trip that changed how you see the world?" That's an opener with built-in traction.
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The best opener is honest.
"I'm actually pretty bad at starting conversations but I wanted to talk to you" is disarming, real, and works better than anything clever. Authenticity always beats performance.