The Rise of Hobby-Based Dating: Why Gen Z Is Leaving Dating Apps and Bringing Meet-Cutes Back
Gen Z is increasingly trading swipe culture for shared activities, with run clubs, book clubs and hobby-based platforms becoming the new way to meet a romantic partner. Here are the questions readers are asking about the shift.
Why Is Gen Z Ditching Dating Apps for Hobby-Based Dating?
Gen Z is walking away from swipe-based apps and turning to hobby spaces — running, reading and sports — to meet romantic partners through shared activities instead of profiles. The shift is being driven by widespread burnout with apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble.
A 2024 survey by Forbes found that more than 75% of Gen Z users feel burnt out by dating apps because they struggle to find genuine connections despite spending significant time on them. Many younger adults describe the swiping experience as passive, repetitive and emotionally draining — a lot of effort with very little payoff in real chemistry or meaningful matches.
Instead of waiting for a profile to spark interest, Gen Z daters are choosing settings where they can meet people through what they actually do: reading the same books, training for the same races, joining the same crafting circles. The appeal is straightforward. Face-to-face interaction. A built-in conversation starter. A filter for shared values that no algorithm can replicate.
The trend has been a tailwind for hobby-based platforms. Goodreads now has more than 150 million members, while knitting social network Ravelry has grown to more than 9 million users. Fitness app Strava and reading communities like StoryGraph and Fable are also seeing big jumps in active users — and increasingly, members are using them for more than friendship.
The common thread: real activities, real people, real chemistry. Where dating apps reduce a person to a few photos and a one-line bio, a hobby community shows you how someone actually shows up — whether that’s finishing a 10K, finishing a novel or finishing a knitting project. For a generation tired of being ghosted by strangers, that has become the more attractive option.
What Is Hobby-Based Dating and Which Platforms Are People Using?
Hobby-based dating uses interest-driven communities — both apps and in-person groups — to meet romantic partners through shared pursuits rather than dating profiles. Think Strava instead of Tinder, book clubs instead of Bumble, knitting circles instead of Hinge.
The category covers a wide range of platforms. Some, like fitness tracker Strava, were built around tracking activity but have evolved into social networks where people connect through clubs and group events. Others, like Goodreads, are organized around reading and book discussions. Knitting site Ravelry counts more than 9 million users, while Goodreads has grown past 150 million members.
These platforms weren’t designed as dating apps, and most still aren’t marketed that way. But for a growing share of Gen Z users, they function like one. They provide a way to meet people with overlapping interests, observe their personality through how they engage with the hobby and start conversations that don’t begin with “Hey.”
The format also bridges online and in-person. Many users find a community on an app, then meet at run-club routes, book signings, race days or workshop nights. That blend is part of the appeal: digital discovery, real-world chemistry.
Other platforms have explicitly leaned into the activity-first model. RacketPal and Reclub help users find pickleball, volleyball and hiking partners. Activitybees connects people based on specific activities. Hobbytwin matches people who want to learn or teach skills. Meetup and Eventbrite continue to host thousands of in-person hobby events ranging from craft nights to trivia leagues.
The common thread is that the hobby comes first and the romance — if it happens — happens organically. That structure is exactly what younger daters say they’re looking for.
Are Book Clubs Really the New Dating Apps?
Book clubs are emerging as one of the strongest examples of hobby-based dating, with new survey data showing that nearly a quarter of book club members have met a romantic interest through their reading group.
A 2025 survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by ThriftBooks found that 23% of book club members had met someone they were romantically interested in through their reading group. Men were significantly more likely than women to report meeting a romantic interest there — 38% compared to 16%.
The same survey found that 44% of respondents would rather meet a romantic partner at a book club than on a dating app. Among generations, Gen X (45%) and Gen Z (47%) were the most likely to prefer a book club meet-cute over app-based dating.
Barbara Hagen, vice president of marketing at ThriftBooks, said reading groups are reshaping more than just members’ love lives. “Not only are reading groups having a significant impact on readers’ romantic lives and friendships, they’re also hugely beneficial for book club members’ mental health,” Hagen said.
She added: “In the survey, we found that readers are meeting in-person, online, in hybrid in-person and online settings and even on social forums. They’re also reading a diverse span of literature from recently-released titles to the classics and making friends and romantic connections along the way.”
Are Run Clubs Replacing Tinder for Gen Z?
Run clubs are increasingly being described as a Tinder alternative, with research showing the majority of Gen Z runners join specifically to meet new people — not just to log miles.
Data from Strava shows club participation has surged over the last two years, with some communities seeing major growth. Research by LADbible Group found that around 72% of Gen Z report joining run clubs specifically to meet new people, with many describing them as a replacement for dating apps because the interaction feels more direct and less performative.
The format works for similar reasons book clubs do. Members show up regularly. The activity itself does the icebreaker work. And there’s no pressure to perform a personality through a profile — your effort, your pace and your willingness to keep showing up speak for you.
The trend extends beyond running. Cycling groups, bird-watching meetups, intramural sports leagues and hiking clubs are all seeing similar bumps as Gen Z trades swipe culture for face-to-face connection. The shared structure — show up, do the thing, talk to whoever shows up next to you — turns out to be a much shorter path to chemistry than weeks of texting through an app.
What Are the Best Hobby Apps for Meeting a Partner?
A growing list of hobby apps and interest-based platforms are being used by Gen Z and other adults to meet romantic partners through shared activities. Most aren’t marketed as dating apps, but their structure — recurring activities, shared interests, in-person events — has made them effective at it.
Popular options for activity-driven daters include:
- Strava: Running, cycling and hiking communities with active local clubs
- RacketPal / Reclub: Casual sports like pickleball, volleyball and hiking.
- Activitybees: Find partners, groups or coaches for specific activities.
- Hobbytwin: Connect with people to learn or teach skills.
For book lovers, several platforms have built large social reading communities:
- Goodreads: More than 150 million members discussing and reviewing books.
- Silent Book Club: Read together with optional chats.
- StoryGraph / Fable: Social reading communities with discussion features.
For crafters and makers:
- Ravelry: Community site for knitters and crocheters with more than 9 million users.
For broader interest discovery:
- Meetup: Find local hobby and interest groups.
- Eventbrite: Workshops and social events.
- Palls: Matches you with people and activities based on your interests.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
