How to solve the problem of social isolation of generation Z? She tried surfing and it worked

As a child, Genesy Mendez struggled with anxiety and social insecurity. The pandemic has made things worse, and the 29-year-old primary school teacher says she doesn’t have enough practice making friends.

“I was very hard on myself.” says Mendes, who lives in Los Angeles.

Mendez’s experience reflects larger trends toward social isolation.

When the chief surgeon issued 2023 warning When it comes to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, one fact stands out: People aged 15 to 24 spend 70 percent less time in person with friends than people the same age in 2003. This difference amounts to almost 1,000 fewer hours per year. year.

Josh Penney, director of social innovation at dating app Hinge, is among those who have taken notice of the data.

“As a brand targeting Gen Z, we were very alarmed to learn how much the loneliness epidemic was impacting them,” says Penny.

Hinge’s concern is not simply altruistic. The company learned from its users that people are more successful in dating when they have other, meaningful relationships in their lives. According to Penny, those who don’t have a strong network end up bringing long checklists of needs to a potential partner. It can be too much for a relationship.

They sought a partnership with the Social Connection Foundation, a research and policy group that works to address social exclusion. The team also studied this demographic. “We’re seeing a decline in things like social groups, clubs, club participation, third places for people to gather,” says Jillian Racusin, executive director of the foundation.

The two organizations have joined forces to promote real connections—of all kinds, not just romantic ones. The initiative, called “One More Hour,” is a reference to the Surgeon General’s emphasis on spending time with friends. Racusin says it’s unrealistic to plan for a return to a society where people aren’t consumed by their phones or working remotely. However, even a small amount of time spent in real life can make a big difference for young people.

This year, Hinge invested $1 million in 40 groups that meet in person in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York. list includes an art group, a filmmaking group, and a reading group.

Mendes was involved in one such club called Intersxtn Surf, a group of women of color who surf together. “I was really nervous the first time,” Mendez says.

But the emotional risk was worth it, she says. The surf group was invigorating. She felt that other people could see her. The very fact that the instructors remembered her name felt deep and meaningful.

“The skills you need personally seem to be more expensive,” says Penny.

In an attempt to gauge the effectiveness of One More Hour, Hinge asked members about the biggest challenges they face when participating in such groups. Cost and time were both concerns, but Penny says the biggest concern was emotional barriers—questions such as “What if I don’t fit in?” “What if I don’t find what I’m looking for?” The skills needed to communicate in person, Penny says, are different from the skills people need to communicate online, and this generation is simply out of shape. “They just need to build those muscles.”

It’s unclear to what extent Hinge’s efforts will pay off. There are far more members of Generation Z than they can reach. Penny says “One More Hour” is an attempt to make the lessons learned public for wider use among those trying to mitigate a problem unique to this younger generation.

Mendes credits the surf group for helping her make new, meaningful friendships. Now she spends time with these friends outside of surfing. Her success inspired her to join a running group and she met the man she is now dating – a non-surfer.

“It’s not necessarily what my partner wants to do, but that’s okay,” Mendez says. Surfing, she says, is just for her and her friends.