Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, ye...

When author Kyle Chayka explored 2010s minimalism in Longing for Less, a very different world existed. Today, a polycrisis-ridden and digitally saturated society finds people yearning for more. Whether you chalk it up to post-pandemic release or a general sense of impending doom, people are now looking for a...

Every Sunday, City Girls Who Walk brings together hundreds of women in New York’s Central Park, where they go for a walk of bonding and togetherness. As loneliness continues to impact tens of millions of Americans, how are big city dwellers working to create a sense of community?

'Fringe friends' – casual relationships based on proximity or wide social circles – are falling in number for many Americans as new behavioral patterns and a digital-first existence hamper human connection. Amid an epidemic of loneliness, young people are having trouble building IRL social networks.

Record-high search volumes for how to meet and make friends reflect the continuing loneliness epidemic in the US. As Gens Z and Y struggle to form meaningful connections, brands can combat loneliness by fostering authentic relationships and using technology to support human interaction.

In the US, Gen Zers are the loneliest generation. While always-on digital communities are frequently blamed, pandemic lockdowns and turbulent world events have also taken their toll. What can brands do to help people foster deeper connections and more enriching relationships?