How Creating Simple Memories Can Reduce Big Feelings of Loneliness, According to Hinge Research

Today, having a social life can feel harder than it should. The expectation to organize big plans or pricey dinners leaves people feeling depleted before they even show up. As a result, some retreat into passive scrolling. It feels easier in the moment, but lonelier in the long run.

Loneliness comes from feeling disconnected, unseen, or emotionally distant. And Hinge’s new research from its One More Hour program shows people will try to fix it in ways that end up reducing their energy. The “Social Energy Study,” conducted with over 10,000 global participants, found that:

• 54% of people globally almost always or often choose alone time even if the opportunity to socialize exists - often mistaking self-isolation for self-care.
• Half of the global population (51%) feels drained after social gatherings of 15+ people.

The disconnect? People are choosing big plans or solo nights in, but these don’t actually make us feel close. Hinge’s new study suggests the solution might be more accessible than anyone expected. 78% of people find a one-on-one walk or a coffee with a friend energizing. These small, intentional interactions, what Hinge calls “simple memories,” are offering a more sustainable path to feeling close.

What are Simple Memories?
Simple memories are low-intensity, high-focus micro-moments that can create deeper bonds than the “catch-up loops” of simply trading life updates over dinner.

Licensed therapist and Hinge’s Love and Connection Expert, Moe Ari Brown, shares, “Memories build a sense of 'we,’ and updates only reinforce 'me.’ Co-creating experiences moves the relationship from feeling like parallel timelines to something more integrated. When we create memories, we are no longer just narrating our worlds while orbiting others; we essentially are inviting those worlds to merge in meaningful ways.”

7 Ideas for Creating “Simple Memories”
from Hinge’s Love and Connection Expert, Moe Ari Brown (he/they)

1. Share your favorite childhood snacks
2. Play a card game together
3. Pick your favorite song from high school and have a two-song dance party
4. Read a book together over a specific time and establish regular check-ins to connect over the reading
5. Make moodboards or collages together
6. Go on a walk and see how many things you can spot from a pre-curated list you made together.
7. Draw pictures that represent your bond. When you’re done, share the pictures and the meanings with one another.

Why it Matters Now
This recalibration comes at a time when life has become more emotionally taxing and financially expensive. Consumer prices are up more than 24% sinc​​e the pandemic, and social media mentions of the “cost of friends” have surged nearly 90% in two years*. The pressure to keep up with large, expensive social expectations is fueling burnout. By contrast, the search term “hot girl walk” grew over 4,000% in recent years, highlighting how people are seeking more accessible and meaningful ways to connect.

What Gen Z Can Do
Connection doesn’t need to be extravagant to be valuable. This week, swap an expensive catch-up dinner for a simple memory, whether it’s a short walk, coffee, or even just people-watching with a friend. Replacing high-cost outings with small, intentional memory-making moments can create stronger friendships and protect our energy.

These moments may seem small, but they add up. And right now, they’re one of the most powerful tools we have for feeling close without burning out.

Methodology

From May 2025 to July 2025, Hinge, in partnership with FOOD and ON ROAD, conducted a mixed-method global study to better understand how Gen Z is navigating connection today. The research surveyed 10,000 participants aged 18–65 across five countries (U.S., U.K., Australia, France, and Germany), complemented by in-depth qualitative methods including digital diaries, online interviews, and in-person ethnographic observation. Together, these approaches provided a comprehensive view of how social habits, energy levels, and community rituals shape young adults’ experiences of connection and loneliness.

*Search and social volume insights provided using two-year trend data from Keywords Everywhere, a Google search volume analytics platform, and social listening platforms, Brandwatch and YouScan.