I think we have primarily progressed beyond the whole gatherings with friends from the internet are weird thing, but since my weekend garnered some new ones, let's talk about this.
Now, first, I think we have to factor in that some things are simply facilitated more easily from the internet, so, in the pre-internet days (for those of us who can remember that far back) some meetings like knitting groups or book clubs, might have been found through postings on, well, actual bulletin boards in the library, or other gathering places. I don't mean to speak for all bulletin boards, but I think the internet has allowed for ever more niche groups. One might not have posted or attended a group about jam or a particular type of backpack or something else, the way one might have for movie fans or fans of a particular band.