June 10, 2024

Hinge Spotlights 40 Social Groups Removing Barriers to In-Person Connection for Gen Z

Hinge’s social impact program awards $1M to social groups in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York to combat loneliness for young adults.

NEW YORK, June 10, 2024 - In a tech-saturated world, Gen Zers are longing for IRL connections - with 82% reporting feeling lonely** - but many limit their search to their phone screens. As a part of its social impact program, One More Hour, Hinge today unveils its inaugural cohort of social groups who will receive a combined $1M in total funding to advance their efforts in redefining how young adults find in-person connections in their local neighborhoods. The awarded groups span across Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York and include the likes of Intrsxtn Surf, HBCUs Outside, ATLFILMPARTY, and Reading Rhythms.

One More Hour grant awardees — *Photo credit: Josefina Santos*

In connection with Global Loneliness Awareness Week, Hinge’s One More Hour program, recognizes the significance of social groups as a meaningful third space of connection for a generation that still feels the impact of coming of age during the pandemic. Amidst a tethering to technology, 48% of young adults also express how financial constraints often prevent them from participating in social outings or events.** Hinge’s investment in supporting local social groups aims to circumvent the logistical and financial hurdles Gen Z faces while finding belonging.

“We live in a society that often undervalues the person who steps up to organize gatherings and weave together a community, but these are the people we should be learning from if we want to end the loneliness epidemic," said Josh Penny, Hinge's Director of Social Impact. "I'm proud that Hinge's One More Hour program is providing critical resources to the social groups working every day to remove barriers to connection for Gen Z."

In partnership with DoSomething Strategic and the Foundation for Social Connection, Hinge reviewed more than 200 applications with a Gen Z advisory council curated by these three organizations to identify the 40 social groups who have been awarded the funding. Each group – most of which were founded post-pandemic and have an overwhelming number of Gen Z participants – will receive a $25,000 One More Hour grant to expand the accessibility of their resources and events while also easing the challenges founders face.

“Given the serious physical, cognitive, and mental health implications of social disconnection, I commend Hinge’s commitment to support and help scale promising interventions that foster high-quality connection for our loneliest generation. As the lead scientific editor of the Surgeon General’s advisory, I am happy to see our recommendations put into action,” said Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University and Scientific Chair, Foundation for Social Connection.

It's important to Hinge and its collaborators that Gen Z is not only able to build community, but sustain community. Awardees were selected based on their offering of fresh and affordable in-person experiences for young adults on an ongoing basis, including:

Intrsxtn Surf (Los Angeles) - creating a safe, unguarded space of connection and community for Black Women and Women of Color in Los Angeles to explore the outdoors through surfing. The grant will allow the group to purchase additional surfing equipment to remove barriers for new women who want to join.
HBCUs Outside (Atlanta) - helping students attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities with leaning into and enjoying outdoor activities that have been historically characterized against them (i.e. hiking, camping). The grant will create more outing clubs and establish a student governance model.
Reading Rhythms (New York) - bringing book lovers together within highly social and distracted big cities (NYC/LA) through vibrant and inclusive reading parties. The grant will fund scaling events while also creating strategic partnerships spanning from New York to Los Angeles.
ATLFILMPARTY (Atlanta) - opens the doors to a historically exclusive industry by transforming Atlanta’s film opportunities into a free, local competition and industry networking event that is accessible to all. The grant will allow the group to expand programming throughout the city and host a wide array of gatherings, both large and small.

Hinge has a long-standing commitment of tackling loneliness and facilitating meaningful in-person connections. By collaborating with its in-house and external experts and partners, Hinge helps to equip people with the necessary tools, resources, and tips they need to foster community and belonging. Hinge also partners with various organizations, including the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness — working closely with other brands and organizations to advocate for policies and initiatives to reduce loneliness – and the Crisis Text Line in expanding its resources on loneliness so that young adults can more effectively access support. Additionally, Hinge has previously teamed up with the Surgeon General to help combat loneliness for daters during the pandemic.

As One More Hour continues to develop, Hinge is working with the Foundation for Social Connection to develop measurement tools and impact benchmarks around Hinge’s social impact efforts. For more information on Hinge’s One More Hour program, visit https://hinge.co/onemorehour.

**Methodology

*From December 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024, dcdx (a Gen Z-led research & advisory firm) and Hinge conducted a mix of qualitative and quantitative research, including national surveys of 3,508 young adults.

About Hinge

The Dating App Designed To Be Deleted®: Hinge is on a mission to create a less lonely world by inspiring intimate, in-person connections. Through in-depth and personalized profiles, daters have unique conversations that get them off the app and out on great dates. And it’s resonating. Hinge is setting up a date every two seconds. Hinge was acquired by Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH) in 2018.

About The Foundation for Social Connection

The Foundation for Social Connection’s (F4SC) vision is for all Americans to have the opportunities and evidence-based support necessary to be socially engaged in society. F4SC engages in education, increases public awareness, promotes innovative research, and spurs the development and implementation of evidence-based models that address social isolation, loneliness, and social connection. For more information, please visit: www.social-connection.org

About DoSomething Strategic

DoSomething Strategic (DSS) is the social impact consultancy of DoSomething.org. Using data and insights derived from over 8 million young people taking action on DoSomething.org, DSS supports mission-aligned brands and organizations in developing more effective social impact strategies.

Meet the Social Groups

Atlanta

Los Angeles

New York City