Cliq, a groundbreaking social and community networking app founded in February 2023, is addressing the growing loneliness crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. Developed as an antidote to the typical social media platforms, Cliq enables users to join communities centered around their interests and hobbies. These communities range from running, reading, Pilates, to faith-based groups, offering a platform for individuals to connect through shared interests and purposes.
Since its inception, Cliq has successfully raised £528,900 ($646,000) in funding, rapidly expanding its user base to 100,000 people worldwide. While the United Kingdom remains a primary market, the app has also gained significant traction in the United States, Australia, and Bali. The app's co-founder, Nicola Gunby, originally from Nottingham in the U.K., was inspired to create Cliq following her personal experience with isolation in London post-pandemic.
"The pandemic made us a lot more introverted as people… I think it made a lot of people a little bit scared to socialize again." – Gunby
Gunby moved to London with her partner in 2021 after living in Australia and found herself unexpectedly isolated in one of the world's largest cities. Her realization of the need for meaningful community connections spurred the development of Cliq. The app's focus on shared interests aligns with the 2023 report by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, which highlights loneliness as an escalating issue across generations.
"When we focus on connecting to something bigger than ourselves, that's actually when we find joy," – U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Cliq's innovative approach is designed to facilitate real-life interactions and genuine connections. Unlike traditional social media networks that often foster superficial interactions, Cliq encourages users to engage in activities and discussions that are meaningful and interest-driven.
"We feel so connected through our phones that we can see what our friends or influencers are doing constantly, but many of these people we don't actually see, so we feel like we're connected on the surface level, but when we look deeper down, we're actually really not," – Gunby
Gunby emphasizes that while digital interaction is pervasive, it often lacks depth and authenticity. Cliq seeks to remedy this by providing easy avenues for users to meet people authentically and reduce their screen time.
"It's just making it easy to meet people in an authentic way … and teaching people to put their phone down, which is very difficult in this day and age when our screen time is so high and we're so addicted to our phones," – Gunby
The app allows users to join community events where they can interact over shared activities without the pressure of personal disclosure. This design acknowledges that sometimes the simplest conversations can lead to profound connections.
"So you go to a run club as a social, maybe you're really shy and you don't want to open up, but you could talk about the run. You go to a book club. Maybe I don't want to speak about myself, but you talk about the book." – Gunby
Gunby's insights reflect a broader societal shift towards valuing genuine human connections over digital engagements. The success of Cliq suggests a growing demand for platforms that prioritize human connection and community building.
"The loneliness crisis is going up and up and up, and so many people are looking for connection, but none of the apps are doing anything to solve this." – Gunby