After years of staring at screens, the youngest workers are craving something different: actual human connection. And honestly, can you blame them?
Picture this: you graduated from college during a global pandemic, started your first job over Zoom, and spent your early twenties building a career through a laptop screen. That's the reality for most of Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012. No wonder the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic in 2023, with young people hit the hardest.
But here's what's interesting: instead of accepting this as the new normal, Gen Z is actively fighting back. They're showing up to networking events, returning to offices, and basically saying, "Enough with the virtual everything."
The Numbers Don't Lie
A recent survey of nearly 2,000 working Americans found that 91% of Gen Z want a mix of virtual and in-person events to connect with colleagues and industry peers. That's not just a preference—it's a desperate plea for balance.
"Young people are seeking out social atmospheres because many just graduated or are only a few years into their careers," explains Dan Schawbel from Workplace Intelligence. "They're looking for the same social conveniences they had in college."
London's Getting Creative
Take Canary Wharf in London—you know, that gleaming financial district where JPMorgan and Barclays tower over the Thames. Last year, they launched something called Wharf Connect, essentially a social club for professionals in their first decade of work.
The program uses an app to organize everything from LinkedIn workshops to pub quizzes. Since launching, they've had 1,500 people RSVP to events, with an average of 36 attendees each time. Not bad for a business district that used to empty out after 6 PM.
I recently attended one of their events—a dumpling-making class at Din Tai Fung. Walking into that dining room and seeing over 50 young professionals laughing, chatting, and fumbling with dumpling wrappers was honestly refreshing. These weren't awkward networking robots exchanging business cards; they were people genuinely enjoying themselves while learning something new.
Real Stories from Real People
Vivek Haria, a 25-year-old tax advisor, has been to 10 of these events. Before discovering Wharf Connect, he struggled to find decent social opportunities.
"The few events I found were pretty much crap," he told me bluntly. "But this filled that gap. I've made really good friends that I actually hang out with on weekends."
For Sinny Wei, who moved from New Zealand to London for work, these events are a lifeline. "When you're in a new city, you really have to put yourself out there," the 27-year-old HR professional explained. "The free tickets, food, and drinks definitely help, but it's more about having a structured way to meet people."
The Office Paradox
Here's where it gets complicated: many Gen Z workers are actually choosing to go back to the office, even when they don't have to. But when they get there, their older colleagues often aren't around.
"I go into the office three or four times a week, and most of my team won't be in," Haria said, clearly frustrated. "Working from home after Covid has been a bit shit."
The data backs this up. While 68% of managers want to continue remote or hybrid work, only 48% of employees feel the same way. Senior professionals have established social lives, don't need as much mentorship, and have killer home office setups. For them, the office is just another place to work. For Gen Z, it's where they hope to build relationships and learn from others.
Beyond Work: The Social Revolution
This isn't just about office politics. Across the board, in-person events are having a moment. Speed dating is back, dinner parties with strangers are trendy, and even Hinge—yes, the dating app—is funding real-world social events in major cities.
Morayo Adesina, a 25-year-old equity research analyst, noticed how London itself changed after the pandemic. "Restaurants and bars don't stay open as late anymore. It's harder to just spontaneously go out," she said. "But speed dating has definitely become popular with my friends. There's been a real push for different kinds of events."
The Bigger Picture
What's really happening here isn't just about networking or making friends. It's about a generation rejecting the digital-first world they inherited. After years of swiping, scrolling, and video calling, they're overwhelmed by endless online options and craving something more authentic.
"They're resisting this digital age because it's become cluttered and unreliable," Schawbel observed. "They're yearning to connect in person more."
It makes sense when you think about it. Covid didn't just disrupt how we work—it disrupted how an entire generation learned to socialize. Some of these young professionals missed out on crucial face-to-face interaction during their formative years. Now they're playing catch-up, and they're doing it intentionally, with apps that organize real-world meetups and companies that create spaces for genuine connection.
The irony isn't lost on anyone: a generation raised on social media is using technology to escape technology. They're booking events through apps so they can put their phones away and actually talk to each other.
Maybe that's exactly what we all need right now.