Loneliness Epidemic: Making Friends by Leaving the House

In the first week of October 2026, loneliness is back in the news. A chapel turned into a taphouse, call lines for seniors in Michigan, a dating season that is just getting started: these stories all raise the same question, about the loneliness epidemic and how we make friends. This article looks at what the sources say, and at another way to meet people in the real world.

A loneliness epidemic that fills the headlines

On 2 October, The Washington Post reported how a chapel had become a taphouse, presented as a response to the loneliness epidemic (The Washington Post). On 3 October, The Detroit News recalled that Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon General, had described loneliness as an “epidemic” in 2023 (The Detroit News). According to the same article, loneliness is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death.

Cuffing season, when connection doesn’t happen through an app

Cuffing season refers to the autumn and winter months, when many people look for a relationship. According to BuzzFeed, Brits step back from dating apps during this period, and one in five say they would rather spend time with an animal than with a partner (BuzzFeed). That figure doesn’t tell the whole story, but it shows that the need for company isn’t just about finding a match.

The apps themselves are changing too. A press release picked up by Business Standard presents a “more intentional” approach to finding love in India, with Hinge (Business Standard). So the conversation goes beyond the dating app itself.

Loneliness as a community problem

In the Daily Tribune, Reyner Aaron M. Villaseñor argues that loneliness doesn’t come only from smartphones or algorithms, but also from the decline of the expectations that tie us to one another (Daily Tribune). He points to bowling leagues, church suppers and civic groups replaced by Discord servers and subreddit threads. His point: an online conversation can be left with one click, whereas life in a neighbourhood asks you to show up, even when you’d rather not.

“Digital connection is frictionless by design.” Reyner Aaron M. Villaseñor, Daily Tribune.

Making friends often starts with a concrete meet-up

The Detroit News profiles the Friendly Caller programme in Macomb County, Michigan. Volunteers call seniors once a week for a chat. Charles Krause, 87, is one of them: every Friday he talks with Dianne Marvaso, 77, and he says the call gives him a reason to keep going.

A few figures from the article:

• 1,624 calls made between 1 January and 31 August 2026, according to The Detroit News
• A waiting list of at least 50 seniors, according to the head of the county’s senior services office, also via The Detroit News
• A programme that has grown from around 200 participants to between 300 and 350 today, according to The Detroit News
• According to a national University of Michigan study cited by The Detroit News, 33% of 50 to 80-year-olds said they lacked companionship at least sometimes in 2024, and 29% of older adults felt isolated.

What stands out in these stories is the value of a regular meeting, with someone you really get to see again.

Starting from the place and the moment, a different approach

Each example above starts from a specific place and time. That’s what guides Premeets, the free app (18+, available on iOS and Android) that I created. The idea is simple: you say where you’re going and when, whether that’s a bar tonight, a festival this weekend, a hotel, a campsite or your next destination. Premeets shows you the people who have planned to be in the same place at the same time, with the venue, the area and the distance. You chat beforehand, then meet up for real.

Compared with a profile-led network, this approach changes a few things:

• Context first: you see who’ll be in the same place, at the same time, before scrolling through profiles.
• Real, nearby meetings: nights out, gatherings, trips and festivals.
• Friendship as much as dating: useful when you’re going solo, want to widen a group, or want to know who’s staying at your hotel or campsite.
• Mutual filters (age, gender, dates, activities): you only see what suits you, and the same goes for the people who see you.
• Messages sorted by plan (friends, outings, trips), so you can get organised before you arrive.
• Safety taken seriously, with quick reporting and blocking, and data that isn’t reused elsewhere.

Premeets doesn’t claim to replace every dating tool. Everyone picks what suits them. The idea is simply to start with the question of place: who’ll be there, at what time, and how to arrive knowing a few people already.

Loneliness isn’t solved by a screen alone. A weekly call, a chapel turned into a meeting place or an outing planned in advance: this week’s sources show that connection often comes through shared moments. If you’re heading out on your own this weekend, or want to widen your circle near home, start by checking where you’ll be, and who’ll be there too.

Mathis Mauprivez, creator of Premeets