The way young adults meet romantic partners is changing — and dating apps are losing the battle. Gen Z is walking away from Tinder, Hinge and Bumble in favor of run clubs, book clubs and craft groups where chemistry builds around a shared activity instead of a swipe.
The shift matters because it’s reshaping who young adults date, how they meet and where the next wave of relationships is starting.
What Hobby-Based Dating Is and How It Works
Hobby-based dating is exactly what it sounds like: meeting potential romantic partners through a shared activity rather than a profile photo. Instead of scrolling through bios, daters show up to a Saturday-morning run, a monthly book club or a knitting circle and let connection build face-to-face.
Hobby platforms are growing alongside the trend. Knitting social network Ravelry has more than 9 million users, and Goodreads has more than 150 million members. Apps like Strava — built around running, cycling and hiking — have become de facto social networks where workout kudos can turn into DMs.
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Why Gen Z Is Burned Out on Dating Apps
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.
Younger daters describe swiping as passive and repetitive. Hobby groups offer the one thing apps can’t: a real-life context where people interact before they evaluate.
Why Book Clubs and Run Clubs Are Leading the Trend
Book clubs may be the clearest sign of the shift. 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 a book-club romance, at 38% compared to 16%.
The same survey found 44% of respondents would rather meet a romantic partner at book club than on a dating app. Gen X (45%) and Gen Z (47%) were the most likely to prefer a book-club meet-cute.
“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,” said Barbara Hagen, vice president of marketing at ThriftBooks.
Run clubs are right behind. Data from Strava shows club participation has surged over the last two years. Research from LADbible Group found around 72% of Gen Z report joining run clubs specifically to meet new people, with many describing them as a direct replacement for dating apps.
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Where to Find Hobby-Based Dating Communities
For people curious to try the trend, entry points span a wide range of interests:
Strava: Running, cycling and hiking communities RacketPal / Reclub: Casual sports like pickleball, volleyball and hiking Activitybees: Partners, groups or coaches for specific activities Hobbytwin: Connect with people to learn or teach skills Silent Book Club: Read together with optional chats StoryGraph / Fable: Social reading communities Ravelry: Community site for knitters and crocheters Meetup: Local hobby and interest groups Eventbrite: Workshops and social events Palls: Matches users with people and activities based on shared interestsWhether the activity is bird-watching, pickleball or the pages of a paperback, the appeal is the same: connection that doesn’t start with a swipe.
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