Why Gen Z Is Renting Friends—and Loving It

Renting a Friend? Why Gen Z Is Booking Platonic Companionship on Apps

For a generation raised online, shaped by algorithms, and deeply in tune with emotional self-care, booking a friend for the afternoon doesn’t sound that weird anymore. If anything, it feels kind of genius.

Welcome to the friendship economy, where apps like RentAFriend and Poppi are thriving—not in some Black Mirror dystopia, but in the very real space where loneliness, curiosity, and hustle culture collide. And Gen Z? We’re at the center of it, figuring out connection on our own terms.

You Can Actually Rent a Friend?

Yes, really. Think Uber, but for companionship. You open an app, browse profiles, read bios (some cute, some cringey), and book someone to hang out with. No romantic or sexual expectations. Just vibes.

Maybe you need someone to hit a museum with. Maybe you’re trying a new restaurant solo and want some company. Or maybe you’re going through something and just want to talk to someone who doesn’t already know your drama.

It’s all fair game.

RentAFriend’s been around since the 2010s, but now it's trending again. Poppi, a newer app, leans into the aesthetic softness Gen Z loves—clean UI, mental health-friendly language, and lots of emphasis on emotional safety. On TikTok and Reddit, people are sharing their stories: some hilarious, some surprisingly heartfelt.

Loneliness Is Real (and Expensive)

Here’s the thing: Gen Z is the loneliest generation, statistically speaking. We’re hyperconnected online but still feel isolated. We live through DMs, FaceTime, and Finstas, but deep in our screen-glowing hearts, a lot of us crave real, in-person connection.

And making friends as an adult? Brutal. Especially if you’ve moved to a new city, have social anxiety, or feel burned out by modern dating apps that seem to go nowhere but ghost town.

Renting a friend strips out the ambiguity. It’s clear. You’re there to hang. No pressure. No “is this flirting?” mind games. Just two people agreeing to exist in the same space and maybe vibe a little.

The Vibe: Emotional DoorDash

Some users joke that these apps are like “emotional DoorDash.” You need warmth? Support? Someone to do tarot with in the park? You can literally have it delivered.

“I booked a friend for a two-hour thrift crawl,” said Ani, 21, from Minneapolis. “We didn’t talk about anything too deep, just fashion and weird outfits. But honestly? It felt so refreshing to exist next to someone without expectations.”

That hit. In a world of curated profiles and online performance, having someone just show up—even if you’re paying them—is a relief.

But Wait—Isn't That… Kinda Sad?

Maybe. But also: maybe not.

There’s this weird stigma around paying for social interaction. Like it’s inherently fake. But think about it: we pay for therapists, life coaches, gym buddies, even dating coaches. Why not a chill museum hang with someone who actually shows up on time?

And some connections go deeper than expected. Many users report that trial friendships have turned into real friendships. A rented friend today might become your group chat MVP tomorrow.

Personally? I tried Poppi once. I’d just moved to L.A., knew no one, and was tired of pretending to be okay. I booked someone for a coffee hang. She brought a deck of conversation cards, and we ended up talking about our weirdest childhood memories and our mutual obsession with Mitski. It felt natural. Weirdly freeing.

We don’t talk every day now, but we follow each other and still send each other song recs. That was enough for me.

Gen Z's Take: Try Before You Friend

What makes this trend so very us is how casual it is. It’s trial friendship culture. Like trying out an aesthetic, or a new skincare routine. We don’t always need lifelong bonds—we’re okay with temporary, low-stakes connections.

It’s also a flex in self-awareness. Gen Z is huge on therapy, boundaries, and not forcing anything. Renting a friend isn’t desperate—it’s proactive. It’s saying, “Hey, I need connection right now and I’m not afraid to go get it.”

That’s power.

Are There Risks? Sure.

As with any service, safety and ethics matter. Most platforms vet users and friends, but people should still be cautious—especially in real-world meetups. And let’s not ignore the privilege baked into the model. Renting friends costs money. Not everyone can afford that, and emotional support shouldn’t be behind a paywall.

Still, for those who can use it responsibly, it’s becoming a real part of Gen Z’s emotional toolkit.

The Future of Friendship Might Be Rented—And That's Okay

We're rethinking what friendship even means. It doesn’t have to be forever. It doesn’t need matching tattoos or shared trauma bonding. Sometimes, it’s just a moment. A vibe. A connection that holds you for an hour and then releases you back into your life, a little less lonely.

In a world full of followers but short on presence, renting a friend isn’t weird—it’s human.

So go ahead. Book the picnic. Schedule the walk. Try the app. You never know what kind of realness might show up when you give connection a shot—trial version or not.

Stay connected to the emotional pulse of Gen Z’s evolving relationships with Woke Waves Magazine.
#RentAFriend #GenZFriendship #LonelinessHack #TrialFriendships #DigitalCompanionship

‍

‍