Alexandra Pitzer paid $290 to meet strangers through Real Roots, a friendship matching app that organizes group events. After moving to Honolulu, she bonded with eight women at a brewery and continued meeting them socially. Fueled by a loneliness epidemic and online lifestyles, companies like Real Roots, 222, and Timeleft are growing rapidly, generating millions in revenue.
These apps remove the friction of traditional meet-ups by using personality surveys and algorithms to match users into small groups for in-person events — from hikes to dumpling classes. Users typically range from their 20s to 50s and are matched based on age, interests, values, and even political views. Start-ups like 222 were born from college research projects aiming to "crack the code on human compatibility." In 2024, a Harvard study found 67% of adults report social-emotional loneliness, with 45% of lonely adults saying they don’t know how to develop close friendships.
Psychologists note young people feel increasingly vulnerable. Tinder has even launched a "Group Hangout" feature. For many, paying for structured socializing offers a natural, low-pressure way to build real-life connections.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing