Get your free personalized podcast brief

We scan new podcasts and send you the top 5 insights daily.

The path to an in-person date for Gen Z is a structured, multi-platform digital sequence. It begins with exchanging Snapchats for sending pictures, escalates to text chats, then to voice calls and FaceTime, with a physical meeting being the final step.

Related Insights

To stand out from generic DMs, use video outreach tools that let you record personalized messages while scrolling through a prospect's own LinkedIn profile or website. This allows you to offer immediate, specific feedback or insights, demonstrating tangible value before asking for a meeting.

Bumble's founder envisions a future where personal AI agents "date" each other to pre-screen for compatibility and deal-breakers. The goal isn't to replace human interaction but to use technology to save users time, energy, and the stress of bad dates by filtering for genuine compatibility upfront.

Meta's ecosystem is engineered for a four-step journey: content, viewership, direct message conversations, and then conversion. Marketers should align with this by using features like comment-to-DM triggers to initiate conversations, as Meta prioritizes this over external links.

While dating apps are criticized for promoting quick, superficial judgments, they merely amplify and provide a platform for pre-existing human behavior. People make snap judgments in bars just as they do online; the apps simply increase the volume and efficiency of these interactions, for better or worse.

Bumble is shifting its focus from "finding your person" to "finding your people." The new "friends first" strategy aims to build community and facilitate group interactions, believing that friendship is the foundation of love. This reduces the pressure of one-on-one dates and creates more natural pathways to romantic connections.

With endless dating options, the goal isn't to get a second date with everyone, but to find a compatible partner fast. The optimal strategy is to ask controversial or 'off-putting' questions early to screen for values, even if it means fewer callbacks.

For professionals who find phone calls demanding and texting too superficial for relationship building, voice memos offer an effective middle ground. This asynchronous communication method allows for the nuance and personality of voice, fostering a deeper connection without the pressure of a real-time conversation.

Alexis Ohanian notes a cultural trend where younger generations are using run clubs as the new way to meet people, moving away from dating apps. These clubs provide a physical, real-world social dynamic that serves as a natural filter, a reaction against the burnout of purely digital "swipe culture."

Investors may be under-bullish on voice because they judge it by current adoption. However, observing the communication habits of the under-25 demographic—who heavily favor voice notes—provides a clear signal that the next generation of workers will expect and demand voice-native tools.

To build deeper relationships with potential investors or clients, explicitly suggest moving conversations from formal email to a personal channel like WhatsApp. This enables informal, rapport-building interactions that humanize you, making future business asks feel more natural and likely to succeed.