Never before have we been so connected and, at the same time, so isolated. Loneliness is one of the big problems that we face as a society and, of course, the market is finding ways to make it profitable. Do you feel lonely and would like to have more friends? Well, rent one.
Loneliness. They count in The Country that unwanted loneliness affects more and more people. According to data from Soledades Observatory of the Once Foundationin 2024, 20% of Spaniards admitted feeling lonely and at least two thirds claimed to have felt this way for years. It is not something exclusive to our countrybut a global trend that is already classified as a priority public health problem. In this context, all kinds of services are emerging that expand your circle of friends in exchange for a subscription, of course.
RentFriend. The name leaves little to the imagination and it is exactly what it sounds like: a service that allows you to rent friends by the hour. You just have to choose your area, if you want a man or a woman, where you want to go (to the movies, to the gym, shopping, to accompany you to a wedding…) and the age range. The users who advertise are the ones who choose how much they are going to charge you for their company. In Valencia I have found people who charge 20 euros an hour, others 10 euros and some who do not charge anything. It is not the only portal of this style, there is also another service called RentAFriend or Rent A Local Friend that have a very similar operation.
Timeleft. The proposal of this service is different. In exchange for a monthly subscription, they organize dinners for you with groups of six people who have similar interests to yours. Of course, you pay for dinner. If you like someone, you can continue talking through the app and repeat a meeting. “Embrace the uncomfortable. From sitting at a table with strangers. The vulnerability of accepting that you are looking for friends,” they say on their website. The subscription cost is about 20 euros per month. One of the reviews of the app says “I find it a little overpriced since they only ask you a game of questions during dinner and little else.”
GroupVibe offers a very similar service. The app, available in 40 cities including Madrid and Barcelona, organizes meetings for between four and six people from the same city to have a coffee, brunch or dinner.
WeRoad. If you like to travel and don’t have anyone with you, this service organizes a group trip with like-minded people; You choose the destination and the dates and they assemble the group. You travel with a WeRoad coordinator who takes care of arrangements such as check-in, booking activities, and keeps track of the common fund. By default the accommodation is in shared rooms, although you can go in pairs and in that case they put you with your companion
Mussa. It is a service aimed exclusively at women that works with a subscription model that gives access to different events. Among the experiences they offer there are embroidery workshops, photography workshops, Pilates classes and even bingo nights. The subscription costs 30 euros per month, but then you have to pay for each activity. There are some that are free, but most have a price that can range from 5 euros to 60 euros or more.
There is a country that has years of advantage. If there is a country where a phenomenon like this is already normalized, it is undoubtedly Japan. In 2017 there was already talk of renting people for all types of situations, from people who offer their company even companies that They rent actors to impersonate your partner or family. This business responds to a culture where social isolation is profound. Services like Family Romance cover everything from dinner companions to fake family members at weddings. Although some see it as a practical solution, others criticize that it reinforces the real disconnection.
Image | Xataka
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