Why Some People Are Using Apps to Make Friends (Gift Article)

The apps are taking off at a time when about 67% of adults have reported social-emotional loneliness, in part because they did not feel part of a meaningful group.. About 45% of lonely adults said they “don’t really know how to develop close friendships.” www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

People will dunk on this stuff, but this is basically the two first two years of college plus an algorithm.

Whew. Lots of folks are DownBad, largely due to #BigTech’s panopticon. Yet, instead of volunteering at a local public library or senior center, they turn to….APPS to find “human friends.” 😵‍💫 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

breathless advertorial for the commoditization of hanging out www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

Don't judge me unless you are similarly situated -- that is, a generally off-putting "low personality individual" who thought it would be fun to move to another country.** ** I am probably joking or won't follow through, but if I did -- I am now obligated to publicly share the experience.

Why Some People Are Using Apps to Make Friends (Gift Article) f the nyt

Isn’t this just a more expensive MeetUp? 🤔 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

Why Some People Are Paying to Make Friends www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

As @davepell.bsky.social says "it’s like telling us we can use heroin to kick our methadone habit—when we all know deep down that the off switch is the only true killer app. I hope that view makes my #AI mother proud."

Why Some People Are Paying to Make Friends www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

capitalising on loneliness and increasingly online lifestyles, more people are paying start-ups to make new friends offline. Friend-matching companies are each generating millions of dollars in revenue annually. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

Friendship, by the Algorithm Personality-matching apps are gaining ground as people seek connection amid widespread loneliness. Would a paid app help them find a friend? Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/business/friendship-apps.html Photo credit: NYTimes

I am do doing this. This could be future me hiking with my paid group of pseudo companions doing pathetic let's pretend we can stand each other, app-mandated activities. 🤠 🎁 link www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

This is all in reference to this article that I forgot to include www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...

"Fueled by a loneliness epidemic and increasingly online lifestyles, more people are paying start-ups to make new friends offline. And friend-matching companies such as Real Roots, 222 and Timeleft are exploding in popularity as a result, each one generating millions of dollars in revenue annually."

Why Some People Are Using Apps to Make Friends

www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/b...