🪩 Hello my friend! Ready to take on 2025? Let’s make this a year for connection.

This week, I’m reflecting on what’s in and out for connection in 2025, moving things around a bit, and overall prepping for the big changes coming to Casa Cinco this year.

More on that later. In the meantime, dare to connect.

Andy

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FIVE PREDICTIONS FOR CONNECTION IN 2025

Following Prof. G’s footsteps, below are my predictions for connection in 2025. Around this time next year, I will share a ‘report card’ on what was right, what was wrong, and share my next predictions. Let’s see where this takes us…

1. Hybrid formats: Connection and community-building cannot just happen online or offline. Life currently isn’t either/or, it’s hybrid. The winning combination for 2025 will be tech-enabled, in-person connection and community, whether that’s a business group, a running club, or a chess group. Tech-enabled, in-person is the name of the game.

2. Collectivization of social media: The reason shows like Friends or Keeping Up With the Kardashians are massive hits is because everyone who watches can relate to one or a few characters. I believe we’ll start seeing more and more collective or group influencers vs. individual influencers, ideally encouraging viewers to genuinely simulate the social well-being they’re witnessing on the screen. Probably expect the same platforms for 2025, and new platforms for 2026.

3. Productivization of connection: Consumerism will jump into the connection train, and we’ll see the productivization of connection through branded merch, art, furniture, and other intentionally-designed, visual cues that signal our interest and intent for connection. Think of a crewneck that says ‘Let’s be Friends’, a laptop sticker with a QR code to a coffee date, a circular bench (or bean bags?!) in your front-porch, or a tote bag with pins from the restaurants you’re a regular at. All great for WOM marketing btw.

4. Hyperlocal approach: This one’s a bit of a stretch to include in 2025, but as people realize that life happens locally first and globally second (instead of the other way around), I think we’ll begin to place more value in engaging with our local community, knowing our neighbors, caring for local parks, etc. In other words—instead of donating to a foreign charity in a country you’ve never visited (disclaimer: nothing wrong with this, just lacks connection), you may start volunteering and/or donating locally in your community.  

5. Hanging out: We schedule enough of our lives already. How about setting out time to just be? I see the push for hang-outs increasing dramatically as a countercultural take to busyness, a real human need, and an exploration of what’s possible when we aren’t constantly stimulated. I don’t necessarily expect a business model around it, but definitely things like guides to spaces, certifications, cultural encouragement, and more.

What are your predictions for connection in 2025? Reply to this email, and let’s chat!

WEEKLY CURATION

🪄 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• Sunny: The (free) app on a mission to create a more meaningfully connected world. Join the waitlist here.

📖 RESEARCH AND REPORTS

• 25% of remote workers say their social skills have declined from… well… working remotely.

• The latest data: loneliness affects over 40% of Americans (including 60% of young adults). Plus, RTO isn’t really helping out.

💭 OTHER IDEAS

• From loneliness to belonging: 5 trends that museums and art galleries could tap into.

• TIME: “Why a ‘Third Life’ Is The Answer to America’s Loneliness Epidemic”.

📅 EVENTS

Nothing yet, hope to bring these back soon!

Dare to connect.

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