people-look-ways-make-new-friends-20260405
coverStrategy: "brave" coverQuery: "social connection" title: >- As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help date: '2026-04-05' excerpt: >- In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interact tags:
- Social
- Apps source: >- https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/05/as-people-look-for-ways-to-make-new-friends-here-are-the-apps-promising-to-help/ author: SiliconFeed Editorial Team coverKey: social faqData:
- q: What is happening with Social? a: >- In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interact This article covers the latest developments and their implications for the technology sector.
- q: Why does this social development matter? a: >- This development has significant implications for the As people look space, affecting how professionals and companies approach As people.
- q: What are the key features of this social announcement? a: >- The announcement introduces key changes that will reshape the landscape. See the full article for our detailed breakdown and editorial analysis.
- q: What is the connection to Apps? a: >- The connection between these developments highlights a broader trend in the tech industry. Read our full analysis for the complete picture.
The Lead
As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help. In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interactions found in an office, and younger individuals eager to create their adult social circles based on shared interests and hobbies, are among those seeking meaningful friendships. Thanks to online dating apps, the stigma associated with finding connections online has largely faded away.
Key Details
This has welcomed a new wave of apps focused on fostering friendships and building local communities. According to estimates from Appfigures, over a dozen local-focused friendship apps have collectively generated approximately $16 million in consumer spending in the U.S. so far this year. Some notable examples include Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble's BFF. Additionally, these apps have garnered approximately 4.3 million downloads thus far in 2025. The apps aim to provide a less awkward solution than, for instance, approaching a stranger.
Context
From major players like Meetup to newer ones like 222, there are plenty of apps that cater to the growing demand for meaningful friendships. We've compiled a list of them for you to try out. The app 222 is an iOS-only social events platform that facilitates in-person meetups by pairing a group of strangers based on their personality test results. The app sends invitations to nearby public social events, such as wine bars and comedy clubs. There is then a.
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Opinion 📡
The tech landscape moves quickly. What was cutting-edge yesterday is baseline today.