It seems like social apps aimed at the dating scene for the younger generation are being released all over the place. But what about the elderly?
According to the World Health Organization, almost one in four older adults feel lonely and socially isolated. The WHO describes this as an imminent global health threat.
Two Southern California women, Taylor Jay and Carolyn Kelley, say dating apps aren’t suitable, at least not for older people. They want to make it easier to make friends as you get older.
They developed an app called Wyzr Friends that focuses on connecting adults with common interests online and in person.
“We feel that the so-called ‘senior’ (people over 40) market is being ignored in the social app space,” Jay said.
Jay and Kelly say they felt there was a problem with their “friendship scene” when they met at a music festival in 2024. They started talking about their fathers and discovered a shared love of Costco.
They found it useful to have an app that could “bring dads together and foster friendships.” and Costco,” Kelly said.
“There aren’t many friendship platforms that cater to this particular age group,” Kelly said. “What exists is primarily online forums, chat rooms, or group experiences, making it difficult to form one-on-one connections.”
That’s why the free app Wyzr Friends was born. Jay and Kelly, who had no experience in software design or coding, worked together to visually design the app and build it with the help of an app developer.
The app will soft launch in October 2023 and is available in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Philippines, and Singapore. A full-scale marketing campaign in Iowa is scheduled to begin on January 15, 2024.
Approximately 1,500 users have joined the app.
How does Wyzr Friends work?
Similar to dating apps, Wyzr Friends users can swipe through profiles to “match” with locals. Press the blue “thumbs up” if you want to be that person’s friend, or the red “thumbs down” if you’re not interested.
Wyzr connects people based on parameters such as common interests, age range, location, and health and wellness goals, Jay said.
Although the app is aimed at seniors, anyone over the age of 18 can download it and take advantage of its features.
Wyzr users can connect for a variety of purposes, including finding friends to drink coffee with, play pickleball with, or find concert buddies.
Jay and Kelly emphasize that the main concept of the app is friendship.
“We’re bringing people together on a deeper level for camaraderie and true friendship,” Jay said. “This is aimed purely at non-romantic social connections. If people want to meet up for a date, we’re not going to stop them, but that’s not what the app is about.”
real experience
Kelly’s friend Mary Melvin, who recently immigrated from Connecticut, said she found it difficult to adjust to the move to Iowa.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m trying to meet new people,” Melvin said. “If there are resources out there that make things easier, that’s great. I welcome that.”
She became an ambassador for the app.
“I feel like a lot of people are feeling lonely and wondering where they’re going next as they get older,” Melvin said. “Having something like that (Wyzr Friends) where you can connect with people with similar interests is a great idea.”
Wyzr’s Privacy Commitment
Another feature provided by Wyzr Friends is identity verification.
“Online safety is extremely important,” Jay said. ”We are doing our best to provide a safe experience for our users. ”
When you sign up for Wyzr Friends, you have the option to authenticate your account through the third-party authentication service Persona, the same service that Walmart uses for its drivers.
To verify your identity, upload a photo of the front and back of your government ID. This data is not shared with Wyzr Friends or any friends you make on the app.
Once authenticated, you will see a blue check mark and that way you are a real person (at least on the app).
Why is Wyzr Friends launching a campaign in Iowa?
Yes, the app will be fully launched in Iowa on January 15th, caucus day. Jay and Kelly say Iowa is community-oriented and an indicator of what to expect in upcoming elections and beyond.
Caucus campaigns are built on community connections, and Jay and Kelly hope to do the same with Wyzr.
“The whole country is looking forward to the future of Iowa,” Jay said. “We’re also building community by community, state by state, so it makes sense to have a similar approach, and we can’t think of a better state to start than Iowa.”
Users in Iowa have the opportunity to take advantage of Wyzr discount clubs, which are established with local shops, restaurants and businesses to provide discounts to users.
Currently, the app’s features are free to all users, but as the app grows, some of these features may become available for a fee.
What other features does the app have?
When you open the app for the first time, you’ll hear “Thank You for Being My Friend,” the iconic theme song from the hit 80s sitcom “The Golden Girls.”
In addition to the now basic matching and chat features offered by Wyzr Friends, the app also includes Wyzr Ride, a carpooling feature, and Friend Blast, an impromptu meeting scheduler.
Wyzr Friends can be downloaded on IOS and Android devices. For more information about “Wyzr Friends,” please visit our website https://wyzrfriends.com/.
Kyle Warner is a reporter for the Register. Please contact kwerner@dmreg.com.