New platform ThinkMatch helps users find community

A new technology in Davis debuts to foster connection  

By AMBER WARNKE — features@theaggie.org 

Generation Z is considered to be the loneliest age group alive, with 73% reportedly feeling alone sometimes or always, according to the Cigna United States Loneliness Index. As social media and the internet have changed the social landscape, many young people have struggled to find ways to connect with one another. 

Phanie Berber, a second-year human biology major, said that she sees the disconnect among college students who don’t always know how to approach one another in her own life.

“It's kind of hard making friends, especially, I think, in college, if you don't always want to come up to someone randomly and be like, ‘Hey, like, yeah. What do you like to do?’” Berber said. “Comparing [Gen Z] to my parents and older generations, you can definitely tell that our generations tend to spend more time alone.”

However, a new technology may help people connect with one another as a community. Scott Rothstein, an established software entrepreneur and computer scientist, has created a new platform, ThinkMatch, which he hopes will help users bond around common interests. The free platform offers questionnaires users can fill out to match with people with similar interests. From there, users can organize meet-ups at coffee shops and other local venues. 

Rothstein said that the inspiration for the platform came from an event held by a family friend, who sent a questionnaire to a group of friends she was planning a party with. After everyone answered the questions, she and the party’s co-host matched up guests, who were then able to make new connections with people they had common interests with.

“The people who attended this thing had a lot of fun,” Rothstein said. “I decided I was gonna automate this, and I spent the last two years working towards this.”

Coffee shops have the potential to act as community hubs, Rothstein noted. 

“The reason to go to a coffee shop is yes, you want to have a cup of coffee in the middle of the day, but you also enjoy talking to people,” Rothstein said. “When people go somewhere alone, this will give them the opportunity to meet someone. And, you know, why sit in a cafe alone? People like to interact.”

Caroline Camhy, Rothstein’s wife and business partner in ThinkMatch, noted that, while much of the loneliness experienced nowadays can be attributed to technology, intentional use of computers may be the very way to alleviate social isolation.

“There’s a world of choices online and the possibility of connection for everyone, but we pass each other by in the real world,” Camhy said. “ThinkMatch can help by showing people what they have in common and providing a basis for the conversation. My hope is that ThinkMatch will make loneliness obsolete. It will put friendship and friendly conversation within the path of everyone’s life. It bridges the gap between social media and in-person connection.” 

ThinkMatch also has a free feature that users can employ to help them plan private events and parties. The platform will give guests a questionnaire to fill out, which will then generate a “profile card” for each guest, listing potential questions others can may them as well as their favorite interests and hobbies.

“Any time a person creates an event with friends, or if you have a party, you can print out these labels, and it will help people to meet one another,” Rothstein said.

ThinkMatch will likely become better known in Davis soon, as Rothstein reported working with 45 venues, including coffee shops and cafes, to put up ThinkMatch posters and QR codes in their shops. 

The platform may be of special interest to college students, who can often feel lost on such a big campus far away from their homes, according to Camhy.

“Colleges are getting bigger and bigger,” Camhy said. “Even for those living in dorms, it can be hard to find a way to connect. There will be people all around, but that doesn’t guarantee a connection. Also, there are so many different reasons to connect; the people you want to have fun with aren’t always the people you need to study with. Connecting with the right people in the right way can make all the difference.”

While ThinkMatch might not yet be a widely known platform, Rothstein and Camhy noted its potential to have a positive impact on the world.

“It’s a whole new way of thinking about connection,” Camhy said. 

Written by: Amber Warnke — features@theaggie.org