Paying to Socialise: Four New Premium Services

Published 02 November 2023

Author
Nienke Creemers
2 min read

According to a study by Business Insider, Gen Zers (and adults in general) are spending more money than before the pandemic on social activities to make new friends....

  • Workshop Hobnobbing: New York’s RecCreate Collective offers a space for people to find hobbies and friends. Organising workshops in collage making ($30), journalling ($40), cake decoration ($130) and dinner-party hosting ($80), it aims to bring people with similar interests together.

  • Club Connections: Paris-based gym and social club La Montgolfière (€2,000/$2,120 per year) mixes social interaction and sports with its cultural programme, restaurant, and social events. Examples include Run & Brunch events, concerts and exhibitions.

    Meanwhile, in New York, recently opened members’ club Babel Loft ($810 per year) acts as a workspace during the day and a dance spot at night. The club builds on its founders’ now-defunct cocktail bar Ode to Babel. While the bar became a gathering spot for Black and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, the members’ club format allows people to gather in an exclusive, shielded community space. See The Future Members’ Club for more.

  • Premiumisation of Romance: In September, dating app Tinder announced a VIP subscription service called Tinder Select, which will be offered to a limited number of users at a staggering $499 per month. The subscription allows users to direct message others without having to match first and prioritises Select profiles on Tinder’s grid, increasing the chances of someone striking up a conversation. Additionally, Select users can add a badge to their profiles to flaunt their VIP status.


    Tinder’s chief product officer Mark Van Ryswyk noted: “There is a subset of highly engaged and active users who prioritise efficient ways to find connections.”

    See Cohesive Communities: Consumers Combat Loneliness for more.

  • Workshop Hobnobbing: New York’s RecCreate Collective offers a space for people to find hobbies and friends. Organising workshops in collage making ($30), journalling ($40), cake decoration ($130) and dinner-party hosting ($80), it aims to bring people with similar interests together.

  • Club Connections: Paris-based gym and social club La Montgolfière (€2,000/$2,120 per year) mixes social interaction and sports with its cultural programme, restaurant, and social events. Examples include Run & Brunch events, concerts and exhibitions.

    Meanwhile, in New York, recently opened members’ club Babel Loft ($810 per year) acts as a workspace during the day and a dance spot at night. The club builds on its founders’ now-defunct cocktail bar Ode to Babel. While the bar became a gathering spot for Black and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, the members’ club format allows people to gather in an exclusive, shielded community space. See The Future Members’ Club for more.

  • Premiumisation of Romance: In September, dating app Tinder announced a VIP subscription service called Tinder Select, which will be offered to a limited number of users at a staggering $499 per month. The subscription allows users to direct message others without having to match first and prioritises Select profiles on Tinder’s grid, increasing the chances of someone striking up a conversation. Additionally, Select users can add a badge to their profiles to flaunt their VIP status.


    Tinder’s chief product officer Mark Van Ryswyk noted: “There is a subset of highly engaged and active users who prioritise efficient ways to find connections.”

    See Cohesive Communities: Consumers Combat Loneliness for more.