how to not be so awkward/shy?

my boyfriend introduced me to his friends. they’re nice and pretty fun..lol i have nothing against them at all. sometimes he brings me along with them to do stuff or sometimes they just come over to play video games. sometimes his friends ask why am i so quiet. And it’s not like purposely i guess, i just don’t know what to say sometimes. We went to a small get together at his friends and i wasn’t really talking to anyone, but no one was specifically talking to me, ya know? my boyfriend talked to me about it and he’s just like when i meet his family, they aren’t gonna like that i’m so quiet and think i’m weird and i don’t want that to be their first impression of me. If you talk to me first then i have no problem socializing, but as far as me starting it, that’s a no. any advice is helpful 😩