A stranger walks up to you and says, “May I meet you?” How do you react?
Do you run the other way? Do you stare in confusion? Or do you strike up a conversation?
Billionaire Bill Ackman’s suggestion for how young men introduce themselves to women in public generated a big reaction.
The Pershing Square CEO’s idea immediately got the meme treatment, but others said they appreciated the advice. (You can read his full post on X here.) BI’s Katie Notopoulos also has some thoughts on how Ackman could spruce up his pitch.
Ultimately, Ackman’s dating advice is about fostering more human-to-human interaction. That touches on a growing problem: the loneliness epidemic.
In May 2023, then-surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a warning about the risks of loneliness. But in the two years since, it feels like we’re no closer to finding a cure, and the rise of AI-powered companions has only complicated the field.
There is one potential solution on the horizon.
“Social prescribing” is the idea of doctors and healthcare professionals referring patients to specific community services or activities, which could be anything from a dance class to a book club, writes BI’s Amanda Hoover.
As silly as it might sound to get a prescription to party, there’s some evidence backing it up.
While the concept is fairly new to the US — one of the biggest domestic proponents, Art Pharmacy, was founded in 2022 — the UK has been using social prescriptions for decades.
And it could save us all money! One 2024 study estimates that every dollar invested in social prescribing programs could have a $4.43 return across society. That’s thanks to a reduction in hospitalizations and higher rates of employment, among other benefits.
It’ll take some time to figure out, but the push for more human-to-human interaction is undeniable and transcends generations (and net worth).
My newsletter colleague Amanda Yen (a Gen Zer) and senior tech correspondent Melia Russell (a millennial) had a blast at one of Andrew Yang’s popular Offline parties, where phones are banned.
The lack of tech also spurred more conversation … and some unique one-liners.
“I said I was a journalist covering the event, and the guy went, ‘Are you gonna write you met your future husband Kamal here?'” Amanda told me.
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