1. Look for bodies of water

The first thought you will get after the temperature surpasses 38 degrees celsius is wishing you were at the beach. Madrid has no beach of its own, but if there’s something it has plenty of hotels with cool rooftop pools to hang out, cool down, and live it up. Our two favorites at the moment are:

Dear Hotel: maybe you’ve seen it in your favorite influencer’s stories on Instagram, and with reason. The pool at Dear is amidst iconic Madrid rooftops, making it an original view in a deep green tile pool.

Madrid Edition Hotel: The new oasis in the heart of the city, if you happen to be in the mood to escape Plaza Mayor’s emblematic tourist spots, take a short walk to the newly established Edition Hotel and head right to the gorgeous pool.

Bonus FOLO tip: their restaurant selection inside the hotel is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

2. Forget about the rising temperature with a movie

Picture this: A great movie, the clear Madrid night sky and a romantic ambiance with special company. Did I convince you already? The following movie events are happening all summer in Madrid:

Jardin del Reina Sofia: From July 8th to September 3rd, every Friday and Saturday they are showing different musical cinema shows in Edificio Sabatini

Autocine Madrid RACE: This outdoor movie showing happens all year long in Chamartin. They also have an event every Sunday called “Rita’s Brunch” with fair-like activities like concerts, games and food trucks.

3. Keep hydrated while doing “Terraceo”

Are you really in Madrid if you don’t spend at least one of your summer afternoons on a terrace drinking a Tinto de Verano? Even more, here at FOLO we recommend you do that at one of the many rooftop bars, such as:

Picalagartos: a cocktail and sky bar, it’s becoming a gem amongst the Madrid summer scene. You will have views of the entire city while enjoying excellent reasonably priced cocktails and wine by the glass.

Club 67: A secret rooftop terrace in the Only You Hotel, which requires not only a reservation, but a secret spoken code word in the reception, with unbelievably good Japanese cuisine. We believe this is Madrid’s current best-kept secret.

4. Take a Fancy hat for a stroll at Hipódromo de la Zarzuela:

Hipodromo de la Zarzuela: Every Thursday and Saturdays of the summer months the Zarzuela racetrack dresses for a party to celebrate its 35th anniversary. With live music, night races, and a beautiful crowd, you will surely forget about the rising temperatures and leave everything behind for an unforgettable night. The food menu is out of this world together with the wine and spirits offerings.

5. Dance and sing the heat away

Madrid is not Madrid without a lively music scene to gather a crowd, and summers are no exception. This year’s concert catalog is looking like no other; check out the yearly Noches del Botanico for the many shows going on. Check out the lineup here: https://en.nochesdelbotanico.com

Das bewunderte ich sehr und trotzdem tat ich mir schwer meinen eigenen Platz zu finden. Jeder schien seine Weggefährten äußerst rasch und mit voller Überzeugung gefunden zu haben. Wohingegen ich auf der Suche nach wahren Freundschaften von A nach B irrte. Ich kam mir vor wie ein Flummi der nirgends wirklich zur Ruhe kommen konnte und immer wieder in eine andere Richtung sprang, in der Hoffnung nun die richtige Fährte aufgenommen zu haben. Diese Empfingen habe ich damals mit den Worten beschrieben, dass ich meist alleine auf dem Schulhof sei und mich mit niemandem verstehe. So kam es, dass meine Eltern ein besorgtes Gespräch mit meiner damaligen Klassenlehrerin suchten. Worauf hin diese schallend an zu lachen begann und sagte, dass sich meine Eltern keine Sorgen machen müssten. Sie versicherten ihnen, dass ich immer mitten im Geschehen sei, umringt von vielen Kindern und nicht eine Pause alleine verbringen würde. Wahrscheinlich brennt nun vielen die Frage auf dem Herzen: Warum habe ich als Kind denn so übertrieben und diese augenscheinliche Lüge vom Alleinesein erzählt?

Ich kann Euch versichern, dass ich nicht gelogen habe oder nach Aufmerksamkeit gehascht habe. Diese Einsamkeit war mein Empfinden, auch wenn es viele glückliche und spaßige Momente auf dem Pausenhof und im Klassenraum gegeben hatte. Aber das bringt mich auf die viel spannendere Frage: Woher kommt diese Kluft zwischen Fremd- und Eigenwahrnehmung und woher kommt dieser selbstzerstörerische drang sich ununterbrochen mit Anderen zu vergleichen?

Falls du dich in dieser kleinen Anekdote wieder erkennst, dann kann ich dir versprechen, dass du nicht alleine bist, dass die meisten von uns diese Anflüge von Einsamkeit kennen, obwohl sie sehr behütet umgeben sind, von wundervollen Menschen. Und auch wenn dies rational absolut unbegründet ist, sucht uns jenes Gefühl von Zeit zu Zeit heim.
Um nun wieder zurück zu meiner Frage über die widersprüchlichen Wahrnehmungen zu kommen, glaube ich, dass ich wie viele junge aber auch ältere Menschen die Quantität über die Qualität beim Vergleich mit anderen gestellt habe. Für mich schienen 15 Leute besser als eine Handvoll. Eine Party mit 100 Gästen ist schließlich oft stimmungsvoller als mit 10. Doch ist bei den 10 Gästen die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass alle bis zum Ende bleiben deutlich größer, weil hier eine besondere Vertraut- und Verlässlichkeit aufgebaut wurde. So hatte ich im jungen Alter schon verstanden, dass die coole Clique mit 15 guten Bekannten wertloser für mich sein würde, als meine Handvoll, zukünftiger, wirklich enger Freunde, mit denen ich, natürlich nur im übertragenen Sinne, Pferde stehlen würde und sie gleichzeitig die besten Geheimnishüter dieses Planeten für mich werden würden. Aber „gut Ding, braucht Weile“ und so war die Sehnsucht nach echten Freunden groß, auch wenn ich umgeben war von vielen, netten Bekannten. Rückblickend war die Ungeduld unbegründet, weil echte Freundschaften sich erst entwickeln müssen. Wie Samen erst keimen, sprießen, wachsen, kämpfen und unter guten Bedingungen üppig blühen können. Nun das wusste mein junges ich noch nicht und aufgrund dessen bei den meisten Samen voller Vorfreude auf die Blühten.
So bürgen Bekanntschaften zum richtigen Zeitpunkt und Kontext das Potenzial für eine großartige Freundschaft. Doch um so älter ich geworden bin habe ich angefangen früher auszusortieren, welche Samen gewässert und gepflegt werden: Wer beflügelt mich und birgt einen Mehrwert für mein Leben? Wer hemmt meine Lebensfreude oder langweilt mich? Das ist ein Privileg das ein paar Jahre Lebenserfahrung und wundervolle Menschen, die meinen Lebensweg bereits gekreuzt haben, mich gelehrt haben. Trotzdem passiert es, dass man sich riesig über frischen Wind freut, wenn man jemanden trifft, der einen überrascht, bereichert und neue Welten eröffnet. Jedoch wie funktioniert das in unsere heutigen Welt? Wir leben in einer Großstadt umgeben von so unfassbar vielen Menschen und zusätzlich sind wir virtuell noch vernetzter als zu keiner anderen Zeit. Früher musste ein Lebenszeichen, mit der Postkutsche, durch das ganze Land transportiert werden und heute, kann man sich beim Einkaufen per Videoanruf auf der anderen Seite des Globus nach dem Stand der Dinge erkundigen. Das ist schon verrückt und sollte doch eigentlich die größte Verbundenheit überhaupt auslösen. Stattdessen geschieht das Gegenteil: Die Digitalisierung ersetzt physische Treffen und gewohnte Verpflichtungen durch wage Absprachen und flüchtige Verlässlichkeit.

Aber ist nicht genau das eine Barriere neue Leute kennenzulernen? Wie entstehen Begegnungen, wenn nur noch remote studiert und gearbeitet wird? Es keinen physischen Austausch mehr gibt? Jeder nur noch mit Kopfhörern durch den Kiez läuft und auf Silent Parties ausschließlich die eigene Musik gefeiert wird? Was sind die Indikatoren dafür das die selbe Wellenlänge vorhanden ist? Die Analyse von all dessen wird für unsere und die kommenden Generationen immer schwerer. Ein Umbruch, sei es von der Schule in den Beruf, von Beruf zu Beruf oder während einem Umzug wird immer komplizierter, wenn man nicht wie ein blindes Huhn im Internet, in irgendwelchen dubiosen Foren oder Gruppen rum stochern möchte.

Wir möchten Euch hier an die Hand nehmen und mit FOLO einen Ort schaffen, an dem Begegnungen an erster Stelle stehen, geleitet durch das gemeinsame Interesse für eine Sache, ein Thema oder einen Ort. Wir sind der festen Überzeugung, dass eine Gemeinsamkeit ein guter Start für eine erfrischende Bekanntschaft ist aus der potentiell soviel entstehen kann. Also kein Grund sich einsam zu fühlen wenn die Lieblingsmenschen verhindert sind, gibt ein paar neuen Menschen eine Chance und habe ein gutes Erlebnis, welches du selbst kreieren kannst. Die Erfolgschancen stehen sehr gut. #FOLOaround

My stays in France and Chile during my studies at a young age helped me build up a new routine abroad and adapt to other cultures. After my studies in business psychology, I wanted to figure out how easy traveling actually is, I wanted to experience it again. After working nine months in my first permanent job in an agency for sustainable event management, I managed to earn the necessary money for the trip. That’s where it all started.

A year ago, I was in Tenerife on a workaway when a new volunteer from Belgium came; her name was Romane. She did not stay long, she told me that she wanted to go on a sailboat trip from Spain, but the season was already over, so she had to take the ferry.

From Romane, I learned for the first time what boat hitchhiking is. Previous to this, I had sailed twice before with friends and stated at that time that there was no better way to travel.

A year went by, and I knew that Romane was going to Belgium to work; then at the end of the year, she was going to cross the Atlantic by a sailboat. I quit my job in Berlin and wrote to Romane in the middle of December: “Hey, where are you right now?”

It turned out that Romane was in Gran Canaria with a friend looking for a boat to cross the Atlantic. Long story short, we met in early January in Las Palmas and slept at a very lovely Couchsurfer. We were keen on searching for a boat together — but did not discard finding something individually.

Hitchhiking was a concept I’ve already made several times by car. When doing it, I realized that asking people at gas stations or parking lots gave me a better feeling because you can check people out beforehand. It’s similar to boat hitchhiking. You see the people on the boat while you drink your coffee in the harbor bar and observe. When you select the person that seems sympathetic, you approach, and with a bit of luck, it hopefully works. Then you can ask the boats which anchor; you borrow a dinghy from people on the dock and drive laps from boat to boat.

Romane and I prepared some Crêpes to get attention from the people- a classic that got around.

Some bars I can really recommend for good sailors’ meeting:

— -> Las Palmas SAILOR BAR

— -> Mindelo: FLOATING BAR and various JAZZ bars: Livraria Nho Djunga and Jazzy Bird

Upon arriving at Las Palmas, we went directly near the port to accommodate, but the docks are all sealed off and only accessible with a card; not so nice to ask around.

It is much nicer in Mindelo on the Cape Verde Islands- the port is clear, after a time, you know many people, and the number of Boat hitchhikers is fewer. On Guadeloupe, I hopped on my third boat In Deshaies, I took a dinghy and drove around.

Now I want to give you some short impressions of the Green Island Santo Antão:

I have recommended to everyone! We noticed that people speak more creole here than on São Vicente (port), in Mindelo they speak more Portuguese and many understand French, Spanish and a little English too. São Antão is much more rural and supplies the other nine islands with necessary fruits and food. The agricultural economy is impressive with a widespread terracing techniques like Machu Picchu.

People walk down the stones in flip-flops, bags of bananas or papayas on their heads. I stayed one night at the Luz do Sol lodging with a local family, which offered such great comfort. The people here are lovely, honest, warm-hearted, and funny.

My takeaway is that searching at the port can be pretty energy-draining. Sleeping at the port, you are quickly involved in conversations: “Have you found a boat yet?” “Why didn’t you go on with your boat?” However, the atmosphere at the port is very relaxed, and everyone is friendly when you ask them if they have space on board.

Sometime after this trip, I learned about FOLO and what they do to connect people around them with similar interests and events that create community. I think this idea is fantastic, and as a person who has traveled on her own for some time, I can see invaluable worth to a platform such as FOLO. Looking back, it would have been easier for me to find people in the ports and cities I was hitchhiking towards. There is no doubt that I will be using FOLO for my future travels to save my favorite locations and meet new friends.

Liane Scholten

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liane-scholten-03551a174/

The most unnerving part of hosting an event is not the hours of organizing and planning it takes to make it happen; it’s the actual day of the event, the not knowing if everything will go according to plan. Even more nerve-wracking than the possibility of things going wrong is the uncertainty of people showing up at all. An empty event, now that’s a disaster!

The success of event-focused businesses relies on the commitment of the users to attend the events they sign up for. What is it that makes people attend the events they RSVP to? Are there steps a host can take to ensure the attendance of the invitees?

Based on the information the marketing consultant agency in the UK “You Are The Media” provided through the telling of their experience launching their own business, through a trial and error model, they have successfully identified what makes people come through with their plans. We have outlined it below:

1. Readily available information

“When people came to the company website (the page was on the site that then clicked to Eventbrite), it became confusing.” (YATM). Your webpage, page, or app needs to give the user a clear message of what you are about. The information about how your events work needs to be clear, concise, and readily available. This will not only make people commit to going, but it will also jump-start the actual signing up for events.

2. Familiarity helps decisions

Your users need to feel at home with the event and the situation surrounding it. The more familiar and natural it feels, the more likely they will come through with the event. You can’t ask for a vote of confidence based on emptiness; trust must be built, which only happens after a relationship has already started. This means that the second event is usually more effortless. According to the Eventbrite author, when dealing with an online community, the leap toward face-to-face reunions is more challenging and requires a vote of confidence from the user.

3. People attract people

Monkey see monkey do is a concept widely followed by people, even if it is unconsciously. Knowing that more people are attending the event, especially if shown proof of it, may make people more confident about their decision. Incorporating a channel where the attendees can visualize and interact with each other in the days leading up to the event may prove crucial for the success of the attendance rate. Humans need social proof from each other; it’s in our DNA.

4. Word to mouth organic marketing

If you open Instagram and see a friend or someone you have an affinity for post their attendance to an event, you are more likely to check it out than if the event came to your attention through paid advertising. This comes well into play with our previous point; it is the social proof that someone like you is also going to the event. Creating the space for people to be encouraged to publish or announce their attendance will attract more people to do the same. According to YATM, attendees who posted on LinkedIn their attendance at their launch were the catapult to creating an attendance spike and its’ success. Posting their LinkedIn event helped create visibility and organically spread the word.

5. Remove the friction of navigating

The user experience has to be smooth. Everything from navigating your page to getting informed of the event, all the way to the booking and payment. The less friction there is for the users, the better their experience and the more likely they will commit.

6. Non-isolated events

“If you can demonstrate to others that your activity is part of a wider effort, it can help people recognize that what you’re creating has a pulse.” (YATM) It’s easier to ask for people’s time and money when you can prove that your concept comes with a bigger picture, a bigger purpose, and going somewhere. Unfortunately, this might take an extra effort for the first

event, so ensuring that your vision and company are built on a solid foundation can help create the feeling that the event is one of many and a part of something big.

7. Put your money where your mouth is

Across the companies and the events, we’ve analyzed, we noticed one common factor in all of them: financial commitment. But not any kind of financial commitment, a small fee with representative purposes. Small fees were the characteristic of less-known businesses or events and starting off their efforts to acquire loyal users. It’s not a barrier of entry because it doesn’t represent a substantial financial effort, but it is quite literally a written contract and will most likely increase the likelihood of someone standing up from their couch and going to the event.

Overall, event-focused businesses have the great challenge of depending on the commitment of users to show up. By following the steps above, hosts may be a step closer to achieving a successful attendance rate. It’s crucial to remember that just like picking up running, the first mile is always the hardest, and everything flows easier after it. In general, familiarity, easiness, and availability are among the things that make people commit to their word and attend events, together with a small financial fee representing said commitment.

Surely, this year many people have stopped to recall how their life has changed since the pandemic. “How many friends have I made? Which friends haven’t made the cut? Have I lost touch with people in my life? Has it been me who has detached from my friends?” Well, that reminiscing goes beyond personal situations; we might be living in “The Lonely Century”, according to Noreena Hertz. She is an economist from the UK and wrote a book about the loneliness epidemic worldwide and its’ effect on the world’s economy and overall health. Hertz outlines and greatly emphasizes the fragmentation in communities across the globe being significantly affected in present times due to Covid-19. Hertz’s book and numerous other studies outline the lack of face-to-face interactions and a work-life balance as a catalyst for the rising loneliness.

What does this mean for businesses? It implies that fostering a community is not only what the customers are asking for; it has become essential to the success of any company. People are longing for belonging, and while rhyming is easy, building a community is not. Most companies use their marketing and social media to create a voice, but communities can go beyond that, giving powerful insight into a company’s customers and building loyalty. According to Karpis’ article on Forbes, there are four ways this can be done:

1. Brand awareness

Be everywhere to make people aware. The good old word-of-mouth is a powerful way to do this. That being said, the concept has changed due to the social media phenomenon of influencers. Creating ambassador programs for people with an audience that can be considered your target market is one way to develop modern word-of-mouth. As previously explained, people are craving connection which usually means receiving recommendations from someone that they follow, and trust may create more and more committed customers coming in.

2. Foster discussion

People rely on people. Giving your customers the space to leave reviews and creating a safe space for feedback gives the appearance of transparency to outside customers. Concluding, customer service is essential for follow-up situations.

3. Communicate

Having a platform where community members can interact creates a two-way street of communication between the organization and the customers and amongst the customers themselves. Having an open line to allow interaction is a fast lane towards creating loyalty and spiking the desire to stay a part of that community.

4. Create loyalty

An inflow of new customers is a great sign but having a high index of returning customers is what every business aspires to. By incorporating user-forward approach to customer service, the users will create a connection with the business and the people that work for it.

The way we interact in the world is changing, which in turn has changed the desires of customers. Creating a community from your business is proving to be the primary way of acquiring loyal customers.

Building on what was discussed in our article — FOLO a booster shot for your psyche we want to highlight how many people feel lonely globally and especially within the FOLO community.

The topic of loneliness was already closely examined in 1984 and it was discovered that loneliness is a psychological construct.

Loneliness has an aversive experience similar to states such as isolation and anxiety.

Moreover, it is distinct from social isolation and displays an individual’s perception of deficiencies in his/her network of social relationships. These can be quantitative (not having enough friends) or qualitative (lack of intimacy with others).

Robert Stuart Weiss, a sociologist, has shown that there are two different kinds of loneliness.

1. Emotional loneliness, arising from the lack of a close attachment to another person, for instance: people who recently have been widowed or ended a romantic relationship.
2. Social loneliness comes from the lack of social relationships, where an individual is part of a group of friends who share common interests.

Social loneliness is where FOLO is focusing on and supports individuals to stabilize their social infrastructure. We are targeting people who recently moved to a new social environment (e.g. a new city, job or college) as they are even more susceptible to social loneliness.

Weiss has shown that diverse types of relationships meet different interpersonal needs, more precisely different “social provisions”.

Meaning, depending on the lost relationship the interpersonal deficit experienced by the person refers to the social provisions that were supplied by that relationship. Here, Weiss specified six social provisions: “attachment, social integration, opportunity for nurturance, reassurance of worth, reliable alliance, guidance.” However, none of these are absolut.

In this graphic we can see how loneliness appears on the fringes of social networks. People who reported feeling lonely:

• Blue dots: three or more day
• Green: two days
• Yellow: less than two days

As we are focusing on social loneliness, we can tell that it is characterized by feeling bored, aimless and marginal.

The drive of social loneliness is to find activities where they can contribute to and accept them as a member.

FOLO is relieving exactly from social loneliness by giving the user an entrance into a network of friendship which provides social integration.

Even though we are more connected than ever, we are more disconnected from the world around us. Social Media even made us more disconnected from our friends.

During the pandemic loneliness was more triggered due to the isolation which hit teenagers and young adults.

In a research conducted with approx. 950 Americans, 36% said they feel lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or all the time”.

When we think of elderlies we may think they are lonely. However, shocking is that 61% aged between 18–24 reported high loneliness.

If you ask individuals in that age group when they last talked to their friends, they most probably say on Twitter, Instagram or other Social Media platforms. But do they still meet in person? How can we trigger them to do something together in real life, instead of sitting on the couch and connecting online.Social media should serve to assist the upkeep of real-life relationships, not replace them. The reliance of social media to maintain a healthy social life has provoked a spike of loneliness in the users.

The impact of loneliness is by far more important than we may think, talking of anxiety, depression and more. In England and other countries there is even a Minister for Loneliness tackling that problem.

Looking deeper into loneliness within our community we conducted a survey with approx. 35 people with 55% of them being 25–34.

When asking if they feel lonely the majority answered with an average of 4 from a scale of 0–10 (0 = a bit lonely and 10= super social).

63% said they find it difficult to meet people outside their social group and most of them normally meet new people over their own friends.

However, we asked if they would use an app to meet new friends and 80% answered with yes.

All being said, we are striving to change things. We are in the making of our first FOLOs (events) to bring people together. If you want to join an event or have any further questions, feel free to shoot an email to: hello@foloaround.com

Network externalities are effects that arise on a product or service as the number of users increases. Network effects occur wherever platforms bring different users together and where the number of users has an impact on the services and success of the offering.

Direct or horizontal network effects are effects in which the number of users has a clear influence on the quality of a product. They play a role above all in communication networks.

Indirect or vertical network effects are effects in which external factors influence the quality of a product. The best-known example of this is the provider Windows.

In the last two decades, network effects accounted for 70% of value creation in digital startups. It is not surprising, as the power of network effects is enormous. Once a network is integrated into a platform or startup, unlimited growth potential can be unleashed.

Network effects increase the value of FOLO. With strong network effects, the value of FOLO increases sharply with each additional user. Take Instagram, as the number of users increases, Instagram becomes more attractive and valuable to existing and new users. This, in turn, increases the amount and variety of new content on Instagram and attracts even more users. With more users, FOLO gets more attractive, more places can be shared and the network of FOLO will increase. FOLO’s can be created more often and people can get in touch more easily due to the rising amount of FOLO users.

A platform with a network effect requires comparatively less marketing

Once FOLO set up a network effect, it benefits from network automation. It eventually grows and markets itself as more and more users join in. If FOLO has a network effect, it can grow with comparatively much less marketing or without trying to attract more customers.

How do you build and develop network effects?

It’s a challenge to overwhelm FOLO with existing network effects, but developing them is no piece of cake either. It takes effort, research, and experimentation to create and maintain a network effect. That said, there are many strategies companies can use to try to create a network effect. Creating a network effect and building a user base can be a daunting task. How would you attract the first user with a network effect, unless there is a network? The answer here is to attract users by providing value and then getting them to join a network. While not the only way to build a network, the strategy can be beneficial for companies trying to build a platform with network effects.

In our last blogpost we have discussed how important social contacts are for us. But what exactly is behind it?

Social factors influence a person’s health and life expectancy. Social properties are influenced by endogenous substances. A central and overarching role was played by endorphins and dopamine. Our brain produces a large number of messenger substances that influence well-being and social behavior. The tasks of individual substances are thereby quite specific for certain social characteristics.

Scientists found that dopamine influences social bonds in larger networks — outside of two- person relationships. Dopamine is considered a “happiness hormone.” The connection can be explained because relationships with others in larger groups are often associated with pleasant activities, such as laughing, singing or dancing together.

Dopamine is not called the “happy hormone” for nothing, because it is usually released when you are rewarded in some way. Things that make you happy, such as sports, your favorite hobby, music, social interaction, sexual activity, etc., influence the release of the hormone and neurotransmitter in the brain. In addition, another hormone plays an important role, called the “feel-good hormone” serotonin, which is also released as a reward for positive experiences. It sets up a kind of feedback loop that motivates you to repeat the very things that made you happy through the dopamine release. In this way, the hormones motivate you and direct your attention to the goals that you associate with a good feeling. So your brain rewards you every time you take a step toward the goals you’ve personally set. In fact, few things provide as large a release of dopamine as achieving long-held goals. But if you suffer from a deficiency, little of the hormone is released even for things that would normally have made you happy. No wonder, after all, there simply isn’t that much of it and the positive feedback effect is absent.

What are you waiting for? Download the FOLO App, create or join some FOLOs and get together with like-minded people around you. Your dopamine level will rise up high!

Corona has been with us for two years now. Two years in which we had to limit our contacts to other people. Two years in which we had to do less. Simply, two years that were different to our pre-COVID lives.

Social distancing rules, contact restrictions, home office and homeschooling — for many people. The current situation is stressful and chaotic for many reasons. Which means one thing with certainty: COVID influences our psyche. Here is where FOLO will support and re-connect you.

The protective measures such as “social distancing” or contact restrictions in general as well as occupational consequences due to COVID, show clear effects on the psychosocial state of the population. Whether, and how strongly, one experiences the pandemic as a personal threat depends on various parameters. Even with a robust psyche, months furloughing and a threatened job loss can trigger existential fears. Numerous studies show that the tendency to depression is lower among people who see a situation as a challenge and remain in the role of “active agent ”. However, those who have the feeling of being helpless during a difficult situation are more prone to depressive illnesses.

Some general tips to stay healthy which you probably heard about already: reduce tobacco consumption, drink less alcohol, eat a balanced diet and exercise more. On the other side, the human psyche is often neglected: people still speak comparatively little about mental health. Socially the topic is now taken up and interpreted in different ways — the range of social media channels is just one indication of the human need to network and communicate. Of course, personal contacts and friendships come first and satisfy the basic need that we carry within us from birth: to feel like we belong.

FOLO helps you connect with like-minded individuals and shows you fun things to do in a new city or even in your hometown. It’s the easiest way to find new spots in town and make some friends.

It has been scientifically proven that social contacts have a great influence on our mental well-being. Loneliness and the lack of social ties can harm us mentally in the long run. Evidence shows that this isolation is comparable to the physical damage caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day, for example. In addition, research shows that a lack of social connection is twice as bad as obesity. Social exclusion, such as bullying, also causes pain in the brain and has a high negative impact on our psyche. People need the exchange of ideas with their fellow human beings. They love affection, comfort and above all: understanding and compassion in everyday — as well as in difficult situations.

A social trend shows that the number of single households has increased in recent years. However, life as a single person or in a single household does not automatically have to be associated with being lonely and unhealthy. Apart from the fact that a single household is no longer an indication of being single, close friendships have a similarly positive effect on our health as a relationship. Friendship is an incredibly valuable commodity that is built on mutual trust, listening and taking care of each other. It is characterized by the fact that one can also admit weakness to the other and overcome difficult times together more easily. Obviously, it is not always possible and easy to maintain friendships where you see each other regularly in person. Sometimes a message or a longer phone call can help to maintain a close exchange. However, personal contact in real life is what will help your psyche and benefits yourself. After all, it’s about regular activities, conversations and above all — emotional support.

So, the influence of social contacts has a significant effect on our well-being. They strengthen our immune system and protect us from depression and other mental illnesses. They also improve our ability to cope with stress and thus strengthen our heart and circulation at the same time.

It may not often be easy in the hustle and bustle of our everyday life — time for your family and friends is good and valuable time invested. You will notice: Not only you, but also your friends will feel better in the long run.

With recommendations made by trusted connections and people you know, FOLO is the perfect platform to discover hidden gems that are all around us.

Gen Z, also known as “zoomers”, is the demographic succeeding millennial and preceding Generation Alpha. They are born in the mid-to-late 1990s until the early 2010s (approx. 1997–2012). They are digital natives and born with technology all around them. Due to globalization and technological advances, the members of Gen Z are growing up in a more complex world. The society of this generation is faced with daily news from all over the world which makes them more focused on health and wellness (physically and mentally). Generation Z is open to new experiences in a more global context. Currently they are entering the workforce.

„Emerging patterns of change are likely to impact how we live and work. Megatrends are large, social, economic, political, environmental, or technological changes that are slow to form, but once in place can influence a wide range of activities, processes, and perception, possibly for decades. They are the underlying forces that drive change in global markets and impact our everyday lives. “

Generation Z is a generation of #Activism (Feminism, Veganism, Climate, Gender Diversity, Social Justice, etc…)

Generation Z is a generation of #Identity (cultures are merging, born in a world where everything is possible, they need an identity which has nothing to do with a country, with race, ethnicity, and nationality, it’s about values, tastes and preferences)

Generation Z is a generation of #TechSavvyness (born in a technological world)

But what does that have to do with their travel behavior?

Gen Z, as Activists, are more sustainable and aware about their carbon footprint while traveling:

• Ecotourism and climate awareness which goes beyond transportation. Food, accommodation and clothing are also big factors.
• Slow Tourism gets more attractive (seeing fewer places with more time)
• Rediscovering the local and “the near”.
• Hiking surges during the coronavirus pandemic
• Travel is more about connecting than consuming
• New definitions of #luxury (nature, cruelty free, ethical)
• Trend: Airbnb local host, to connect to local culture
• “Hiking resonates with remoteness, independence, sustainability, away from technology.”

Gen Z, as a generation of identity, has a spending power which shapes their behavior while traveling.

• Lower spending power than other generations
• Shaping what kind of choices they are making and what kind of preferences they have
• Seeking for value-based events e.g. there is a rise in microfestivals tailored to specific tastes, preferences and social affiliation (i.e. spiritual or vegan festivals)
• Solo female travels on the rise
• Car is increasingly losing its importance as a status symbol (Generation with fewest driver’s licenses)

Gen Z, as Tech Savvy:

• Instagram, TikTok and YouTube determine where Gen Z travel
• Metaverse will create new ways of “moving” and experiencing
• Mobility as a Service (MaaS) paves the way for a new mobility culture
• The economy of intangibles will shape future of consumption (e.g. crypto currency)
• Influencers (Micro+Macro) have become a new travel guide and are replacing old-school travel agents
• MaaS is making the car just another means of transportation (alongside the bike, e-scooter, uber driver, hiking) and enable tech savvy people to travel everywhere
• The inception of the Metaverse might allow new traveling experiences to appear: Assassins’ creed developer recreated ancient Egypt using leading experts, so players can explore a world with new locations where they have never been to

Generation Z is forming and shaping the future of traveling and our behavior.

FOLO is contributing to this generation in many ways. It all sums up to creating a unique experience which is one of our highest priorities. Did you know about all these facts? Do you belong to GenZ and find similarities of your behavior?

We are curious to hear your opinion.