New app for friendship gains popularity amid growing loneliness

Staff Report: PNN

Loneliness and social isolation have risen significantly in recent years, with remote workers and young people seeking meaningful social connections. Friendship-focused apps have gained traction as online dating is insufficient for non-romantic relationships.

Apps such as Timeleft, MeetFive, Bumble BFF, Clyx, Les Amís, Pie, Wise Friends, Mmotion, and Meetup facilitate forming friendships through local events, AI-based interest matching, and social gatherings. In 2025, these apps have been downloaded over 4.3 million times in the US, generating $16 million in consumer spending.

Experts predict increasing demand for such digital friendship platforms as loneliness continues to rise.