SOCIETAL IMPACT STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES STUDENT
Lonely no more: A new app is redefining friendship for Gen Z
April 3, 2025 ·
Contributed by: Angelica Babiera, Communications Officer
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Gen Z is the most connected generation in history—yet meaningful, in-person friendships are harder to come by than ever. Despite countless digital platforms promising social engagement, many young adults still feel isolated.
Firefly Spark, an app designed by Gen Z for Gen Z, is reimagining how this generation builds friendships. Instead of relying on online interactions, the app brings people together in real life through shared activities. Whether it’s a basketball game, movie night or grabbing dinner, it makes socializing easier.
Rebuilding third places in a digital world
For previous generations, friendships naturally formed in third places—parks, community centres and coffee shops—where people gathered and built personal connections. These important third places have been gradually replaced by online platforms, which connect people virtually, but often fail to foster genuine friendships.
Firefly Spark CEO and co-founder Hoon Yang sees this shift as one of the biggest challenges Gen Z faces. “The problem we’re really trying to solve is the disappearance of third places,” says Yang, who is also an Integrated Business and Humanities student at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University.
“People used to meet first, then stay connected online. Now, it’s the reverse. Everything starts online, but it rarely leads to real-world interaction. We’re trying to change that.”
Research supports this shift. Yang points to a study published in Psychology Today in 2022 which found that while online connections are better than loneliness, in-person interactions had the most positive impact on mental well-being. The study also highlighted that the most effective connections stem from a mix of both online and offline interactions—exactly what Firefly Spark was designed to facilitate.
Unlike traditional social apps that rely on swiping, appearance-based matches and gamified interactions, Firefly Spark is helping Gen Z reclaim those personal interactions, one meet-up at a time.
“At the end of the day, we’re bringing people together through activities—the best social lubricants ever,” Yang explains. “It’s not about profile pictures or perfectly curated bios. It’s about doing something together and seeing if a real connection forms naturally.”
Prioritizing safety
In addition to its emphasis on shared activities and public spaces, Firefly Spark prioritizes safety. Unlike many other platforms that leave users vulnerable to catfishing and online harassment, Firefly Spark requires all users to verify their identity through a unique live selfie verification feature. Beyond the peace of mind of identity verification, all meetups are also encouraged to take place in safe, public places. This ensures people can feel confident meeting others in-person, knowing they are interacting with verified users who are genuinely present.
“We know this is new and can feel intimidating,” Yang says. “That’s why we’ve worked so hard to meet people where they are—on their phones—and give them the tools to comfortably put themselves out there again.”
The team also implemented the ability for users to follow and unfollow one another, enabling co-hosting and eventually content sharing around Spark experiences.
It’s more than an app, it’s a movement
For Yang and his fellow co-founders, Jack Samara, Vincent Quach and Ardena Bašić, Firefly Spark is more than a business. It’s a mission to rebuild human connection and in-person friendships.
“We’re not here to monetize loneliness,” Yang emphasizes. “We’re not limiting swipes or creating artificial barriers just to get people to pay for more interactions.”
“We’re here to bring back the kind of social experiences that people deserve—ones built on genuine, meaningful connections.”
As Firefly Spark moves from its soft launch into a full-scale rollout, its creators are focused on the impact this app could have in reshaping the way Gen Z makes friends.
“Firefly Spark is bringing back the social experiences previous generations took for granted—experiences Gen Z lost to toxic apps and social media,” says Yang. “Because real, genuine friendships aren’t a luxury—they’re something Gen Z deserves.”
For a generation craving personal relationships, Firefly Spark represents a shift toward bridging the gap between digital and in-person connections, and addresses the loneliness epidemic facing Gen Z.
Firefly Spark is now available to download in the Apple app store and Google app store. To see how they’re sparking real connection, follow along on Instagram.
