The Breakfast App Sparks Platonic Connections in Real Life

Published 27 January 2023

2 min read

In the UK, 51% of people find it hard to make new friendships (YouGov, 2022), while 12% of Americans say they have no close companions (American Perspectives Survey, 2021). As part of the push to combat the loneliness epidemic, Lisbon-based app The Breakfast connects strangers in real life over coffee and pastries.

Billing itself as “a social app for modern humans”, The Breakfast intends to create a platform that isn’t about dating or networking, but instead helping users meet people and inspiring conversation. It introduces them to one new person every 24 hours, taking a novel approach to finding platonic relationships. Individuals can set up a breakfast date only during this set period, which encourages them to really take their chance and not miss out on a potential friendship.

The paid service ($19) connects users via its Brioche (Breakfast Integrated Ongoing Chances Estimation) algorithm. They can decide whether they want to match with others who have common interests, or with those who have varying passions. The app notes that one can “meet all types of people” this way to diversify their social circles.

With 26% of Brits saying they have friends they’ve never met in person (YouGov, 2022), digital services for platonic connections are on the rise. US dating app Bumble is initiating a revamp of Bumble BFF with its new platform Hive, which includes features like group chats, polls and video calls. Similarly, France’s Frimake lets consumers host or search for events to join, while Australia’s Friendly initiates direct matches.

Billing itself as “a social app for modern humans”, The Breakfast intends to create a platform that isn’t about dating or networking, but instead helping users meet people and inspiring conversation. It introduces them to one new person every 24 hours, taking a novel approach to finding platonic relationships. Individuals can set up a breakfast date only during this set period, which encourages them to really take their chance and not miss out on a potential friendship.

The paid service ($19) connects users via its Brioche (Breakfast Integrated Ongoing Chances Estimation) algorithm. They can decide whether they want to match with others who have common interests, or with those who have varying passions. The app notes that one can “meet all types of people” this way to diversify their social circles.

With 26% of Brits saying they have friends they’ve never met in person (YouGov, 2022), digital services for platonic connections are on the rise. US dating app Bumble is initiating a revamp of Bumble BFF with its new platform Hive, which includes features like group chats, polls and video calls. Similarly, France’s Frimake lets consumers host or search for events to join, while Australia’s Friendly initiates direct matches.

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This article is an example of Stylus' expert research into how trends are evolving. Get in touch so someone from the Stylus team can explain how your business can harness the power of trends and insights like these – and more.