Old topic, as old as smartphones. There have been several communities like yours posted over the years, but I haven't saved them and probably won't be able to find them anymore (another modern disease).

Teens are glued to the screens because of technologists dopamine-hacking their minds and later realize that it was all a waste of time (or they don't realize it and are just left in an uncomfortable, diffuse void). You can see these sorts of engagements happening live on mainstream social media en masse around the clock.

I'm find it unlikely to solve via yet another platform, because:

1. it will be unfocussed by default. The best virtual connections I made were in communities built around something else (e.g. specific (and obscure) games/topics). It got your foot in the door and served as a self-selection mechanism/created common ground from the get-go.

2. it will be inherently more tedious to engage in than in the passive consumer setting. Making interesting, lasting connections means getting to know social quirks and habits and all and may require lurking/revisiting for weeks/months depending on the setting, and most importantly mutually solidifying your new connection (i.e. it doesn't stay optional). It definitely cannot be bought by making donations to your favorite streamer. This may strongly depend on mutual intent, and I may be wildly off here.

I'm also convinced that we connect on a mental level. F2F interactions are sideshows to me at first and I'd rather not do it until I already have a good picture of you (voice is okay), but YMMV. For a very personal connection they become important eventually (but this level I haven't reached with anyone I met online because I didn't want to).

Good luck anyway. Everybody's different. I'm certainly glad I have most of my school (and even some kindergarten) friends still with me!

Also, the best way to solve this IMO would be to turn off all the parasitic platforms. Things would sort themselves out very quickly, but in this market you unfortunately cannot sell anti-consumption...

Also, your in-person angle seems something that one might do on their own, i.e. you'd look for local sports, arts clubs or the like (see 1.). Haven't used your platform, but these should probably be involved on there.