Combating Loneliness: How Hinge’s ‘One More Hour’ Initiative Fosters Real-Life Friendships

Combating Loneliness Through Real Connections

Genesy Mendez, a 29-year-old teacher in Los Angeles, faced anxiety and struggled to make friends, especially during the pandemic. Many young people share this experience of feeling socially isolated.

According to a 2023 warning from the U.S. surgeon general, individuals aged 15-24 spend 70% less time with friends in person than they did in 2003. This equals nearly 1,000 fewer hours each year spent socializing.

Hinge, the dating app, noticed this trend and took action. Josh Penny, its Director of Social Innovation, explained that loneliness affects dating success. People lacking strong social circles often bring a lengthy list of needs into relationships, which can overwhelm their potential partners.

Hinge teamed up with the Foundation for Social Connection, which also studies social isolation. Together, they launched One More Hour, an initiative aimed at fostering connections beyond romantic relationships. Racoosin, the foundation’s executive director, highlighted the importance of spending time with friends, even if society remains digitally focused.

This year, Hinge invested $1 million in 40 in-person groups across cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. These groups include an art collective, a filmmaking club, and a reading group.

Mendez joined Intrsxtn Surf, a club for women of color who surf together. She initially felt nervous, but the experience helped her feel accepted and visible. Mendez noted that the instructors remembering her name felt significant.

Penny mentioned that people struggle with emotional barriers when joining groups. Concerns like fitting in or finding what they seek often hold individuals back. Many young adults need to practice in-person social skills, as they are not used to face-to-face interactions.

The success of Hinge’s initiative remains to be seen, but it aims to provide strategies to address loneliness among Generation Z. Mendez now builds friendships through surfing and has joined a running group, even meeting a romantic partner outside of surfing.

For Mendez, surfing is not just a hobby; it has become a source of meaningful connections and joy.