It’s been reported that Meta and analytics firms are quietly turning private AI chats into advertising fuel, with little user control and growing legal concerns.

From 16 December 2025, Meta will begin using users’ conversations with Meta AI to personalise ads across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. There’s no opt-out, though the UK, EU, and South Korea are excluded for now. Meta claims sensitive topics like health and politics won’t be used.

Also, startup Profound says it has access to over 150 million real AI chats to help brands analyse how they appear in chatbot results. Experts believe the data comes from browser extensions that log chat content without clear user consent, which is a claim that Profound denies.

Privacy professionals warn that vague permissions like “read all data on websites” may breach UK GDPR and PECR rules, especially when users aren’t fully informed. Similar practices by firms like Onavo and Jumpshot have previously triggered regulatory action.

Businesses should treat AI chats as sensitive data, restrict browser extensions, and demand transparency from any vendor using AI interaction data.

A plan to scrap the UK’s Climate Change Act has triggered warnings over energy costs, investor confidence, and the future of net-zero innovation.

What Is The Climate Change Act?

Introduced in 2008 with near-unanimous cross-party support, the Climate Change Act (CCA) is the foundation of the UK’s statutory approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It essentially created a legally binding framework for setting five-year carbon budgets, introduced a 2050 target for long-term reductions, and established the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) to advise on progress and hold government to account.

Old Target

In 2019, the original 80 per cent emissions reduction target was amended to require the UK to reach net zero by 2050, a change that also became law. Under the current framework, ministers must now bring forward credible plans for meeting each carbon budget, which are reviewed and assessed by the CCC.

Emissions Have Fallen, Says Government

The CCC’s 2024 progress report states that emissions have now fallen by over 50 per cent compared to 1990 levels. In fact, the government’s own data appears to confirm this, showing that from 1990 to 2022, UK territorial emissions halved while GDP rose by nearly 80 per cent.

The structure created by the Act is widely credited with supporting the growth of offshore wind, driving policy clarity for low-carbon transport, and informing investment decisions across energy, infrastructure, and housing.

What Would Change If The Act Were Repealed?

The recent Conservative Party pledge to repeal the Act would, therefore, remove the legal requirement for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero target and end the system of binding carbon budgets. The CCC’s statutory advisory role would also be removed, taking away a major source of independent oversight.

Without the legal framework in place, ministers would still be able to propose emissions reduction plans, but would no longer be subject to any of the clear targets or formal timelines. The duty to develop cross-government adaptation planning would also fall away, with implications for flood risk management, heat resilience, and long-term infrastructure design.

Repeal would also disrupt the legislative alignment between net zero and other areas of policy, including planning rules, energy regulation, transport decarbonisation plans, and sectoral emissions targets.

What About Energy and Investment?

The UK is already moving towards cleaner energy, e.g. in 2024, low-carbon sources actually generated nearly 74 per cent of Britain’s electricity (up from 68 per cent the previous year). RenewableUK attributed this increase to record solar and wind output, combined with falling demand.

Progress

However, trade groups argue that this progress depends on investor confidence and clear legal and policy structures. Energy UK, for example, has described the Climate Change Act as “the legal bedrock that underpins billions of pounds of international investment,” warning that repealing it would “pull the rug out from under” clean energy growth.

Threat

The UK’s trade association for the solar and energy storage industry, Solar Energy UK, said the Act’s repeal would “threaten the UK’s energy security,” pointing out that solar is now the cheapest form of electricity. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has also warned that weakening the legal framework could delay project approvals and increase financing costs for clean energy infrastructure.

Globally

For some context, at the global level, BloombergNEF reports that low-carbon energy transition investment reached a record $2.1 trillion in 2024. The UK currently attracts significant capital into offshore wind, grid upgrades, and energy storage, but industry sources have stated that future inflows will depend heavily on predictable, long-term policy (all investors like stability).

Trade and Carbon Border Risks

The EU’s ‘Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism’ (CBAM) is a new policy that puts a charge (tariff) on imports like steel and cement from countries with weaker climate rules. The idea is to stop companies moving production to places with cheaper, high-carbon processes and to encourage cleaner manufacturing globally. The hope is that, as the policy matures, countries with strong domestic carbon governance frameworks can get some preferential treatment, or at least avoid additional charges.

If the UK were to remove its primary legal climate framework, it may, therefore, face difficulties demonstrating continued equivalence with such EU climate regulation. This could expose UK exporters to new administrative burdens or competitiveness risks in carbon-intensive sectors.

Analysts have also highlighted the danger of reputational risks to the UK, i.e. a sudden change in legal commitments may reduce the UK’s leverage in future climate negotiations and make it harder to defend its Paris Agreement targets on the global stage.

Jobs and Regional Growth

The House of Lords Library (drawing on CCC analysis) estimates that between 135,000 and 725,000 net additional jobs could be created by 2030 through the transition to a low-carbon economy. Existing estimates suggest more than 250,000 jobs are already supported by energy transition activities across power, transport, and industrial sectors.

Many of these jobs are concentrated in regional clusters such as Teesside, Humberside, and the East Midlands, where offshore wind, carbon capture, and green hydrogen projects are underway. Trade unions and local authorities have consistently called for long-term certainty to support skills development and investment in supply chains.

Removing the Act would not instantly halt these efforts, but trade bodies argue it would increase uncertainty, potentially deterring future commitments and complicating project timelines.

Impact on Sustainability Tech and Innovation

The Climate Change Act is closely tied to the UK’s net-zero technology ecosystem. For example, it helps create long-term certainty that new low-carbon technologies will be needed and supported, such as green hydrogen, low-carbon heat, battery storage, sustainable fuels, and carbon capture.

Warnings

UK-based renewable energy supplier and tech company, Octopus Energy, has warned that repealing the Act would increase policy risk and make the UK less attractive for future clean tech investment. Also, other firms in areas such as smart grids, EV charging, and electrified logistics have also highlighted the need for legal certainty to support scale-up.

Could Affect Grant Funding Too

The UK’s national funding agency for science and innovation, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has structured much of its energy and climate R&D around the 2050 net zero target. Grant funding programmes in areas like floating offshore wind, heat decarbonisation, and energy system digitalisation are aligned with CCA commitments. Repeal could, therefore, seriously affect future eligibility and co-funding models.

Also, the CCC’s 2024 progress report warns that several sectors remain underdeveloped, including low-carbon industrial processes, heat pumps, and agricultural emissions reduction. It notes that greater certainty is needed to unlock both public and private capital for innovation.

Harm Industry

Globally, clean tech markets are growing fast, with $1.7 trillion in technology-driven climate solutions deployed in 2024 alone. Analysts warn, therefore, that if the UK weakens its legal climate framework, it could lose industrial ground to jurisdictions offering more predictable pathways to commercialisation and export growth.

Challenges and Criticisms

The proposal to repeal the Climate Change Act has obviously attracted some criticism from a wide range of experts, commentators and institutions, many of whom have emphasised the potential economic, environmental and strategic implications.

For example, a joint letter signed by 124 parliamentarians from Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Green parties described the move as “reckless” and warned that it would damage the UK’s global credibility and economic resilience. They wrote: “Ripping up the Climate Change Act would create uncertainty, stifle innovation, and risk jobs.”

Former members of government, including previous ministers responsible for climate and energy, have also spoken out. Several have publicly defended the 2019 net zero target as a pragmatic, economically grounded goal supported by evidence and investment trends.

While repeal advocates argue that scrapping the Act would reduce bureaucracy and allow more flexible energy policy, critics have said it would simply remove the legal accountability that gives businesses the clarity to invest in the first place.

Others have also raised concerns that the move could weaken consumer and investor trust, particularly among institutions managing green finance and ESG-aligned portfolios, who rely on national legislation as a marker of climate risk.

Where Things Stand Now

Currently, the Climate Change Act remains in force and the UK’s sixth carbon budget, covering 2033–2037, is still legally binding and commits the country to a massive 78 per cent reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

Off Track

However, the CCC’s latest report warns that delivery plans for meeting this target are currently off track, with particular gaps in buildings, transport, and land use. However, it also highlights the growing economic and energy security benefits of continuing the transition at pace.

New Legislation Would Be Needed

It’s also worth noting here that if the Act were to be repealed, Parliament would need to pass new legislation and the outcome would affect not just emissions targets but the entire governance system that has structured UK climate action for more than 15 years.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Repealing the Climate Change Act would not simply remove a symbolic commitment, it would dismantle the legal framework that currently shapes and anchors much of the UK’s energy, industrial, and technology policy. The Act has become embedded in the operations of regulators, investment strategies, funding agencies, and long-term infrastructure plans. Taking it away would introduce a level of uncertainty that cuts across sectors.

For UK businesses, the most immediate consequence would be increased risk around investment planning. Sectors such as manufacturing, transport, construction, energy and finance all rely to some degree on the predictability that the Act provides. Without it, firms may delay decisions, reconsider capital allocations, or struggle to justify long-term net zero strategies to shareholders and investors. This is particularly relevant at a time when international capital is flowing into jurisdictions with strong, consistent frameworks.

Beyond business, the impact would also be felt across government departments, local authorities, and academic institutions whose plans and programmes are currently tied to the Act’s targets. A change in the legal foundation would not just affect high-level goals, but could also cut across planning policy, public procurement, grant funding, regulatory enforcement, and reporting standards.

Also, there is a wider concern that removing a well-established and legally binding framework at a time when global clean technology markets are expanding could make it harder for the UK to compete. Whether in securing supply chain investment, commercialising innovation, or exporting clean solutions, confidence in the UK’s direction of travel remains a critical factor.

While debate will certainly continue around the best route to net zero, the core question for many is not whether climate policy should evolve, but whether it should remain anchored in law. The decision to repeal or retain the Climate Change Act is likely to be seen not just as a political choice, but as a signal to markets, partners, and the next generation of innovators about the UK’s long-term direction.

Creating visuals with brand elements in Microsoft 365 CoPilot helps with brand consistency, increased productivity, and enhanced creativity by quickly generating branded content, managing brand assets, and offering AI-powered visual creation tools integrated into workflows.

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Avoid email mistakes with Gmail and Outlook’s Undo Send feature, a handy safety net for business communications. Here’s how:

For Gmail:

– After sending an email, look for the “Undo” prompt in the bottom left corner.

Click Undo before the time limit expires (5-10 seconds, or up to 30 seconds if set in settings).

– To change the undo time, go to Settings > See all settings > General > Undo Send, pick your cancellation period, and click Save Changes.

For Outlook:

– After sending an email, look for the “Undo” prompt at the bottom of the screen.

Click Undo within the set time frame (up to 10 seconds).

– To enable or adjust, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and Reply, and set your preferred delay.

This feature gives you a crucial window to correct mistakes, ensuring accuracy and professionalism in your business emails.

UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced that digital ID will become mandatory to prove the right to work in the UK by 2029, triggering both ministerial praise and civil liberties concerns.

Interestingly, a petition on the UK Government’s site : https://petition.parliament.uk/ had attracted approaching three million signatures of people opposed to the bill, within a week of the announcement being made.

Rolled out by 2029

The Prime Minister has confirmed that a new digital identity scheme will be introduced across the UK by 2029, with every citizen and legal resident required to use a digital ID to prove their right to work.

Mandatory

The new ID will be free and optional for those not seeking employment, but will be compulsory for anyone taking up paid work. The government says it will replace paper documents and National Insurance numbers for right-to-work checks, with full implementation expected before the next general election. The government also says that, by law, this must take place no later than August 2029.

What Form Will It Take?

The government says the digital ID will be a secure, app-based credential stored on people’s mobile phones using the GOV.UK Wallet system. It will include core personal information such as name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo. The app will act as a proof of identity and legal right to work, with data encrypted and held directly on the user’s device.

The system has been designed to allow users to share only the information needed in each situation, for example, confirming eligibility to work without revealing unrelated personal details. If a phone is lost or stolen, the credential can be revoked remotely and reissued.

The government says this will replace the need to provide paper copies of documents such as passports or residence permits, and will become the standard method of proving work eligibility across the UK labour market.

Why?

The government says the scheme is designed to reduce illegal working, deter unauthorised migration, and improve the consistency of identity checks. Ministers argue that illegal employment remains a key draw for people entering the UK without permission, and that a digital system will make enforcement more effective.

The new ID is also framed as a broader tool for improving access to public services. It is hoped that over time, it could be used to simplify applications for childcare, benefits, driving licences, and tax records, although these uses will be optional, not mandatory.

In a statement issued through Downing Street, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure.”

However, some opponents believe the move is motivated more by political positioning than practical enforcement. For example, with pressure mounting over small boat crossings and immigration policy, privacy campaigners argue that the scheme could have been designed primarily to reassure voters rather than address the root causes of illegal working.

Previous attempts

It should be noted here that this is not the first time a UK government has proposed a national identity scheme. Back in the early 2000s, then-Prime Minister Tony Blair introduced plans for a physical ID card, which became law in 2006. The cards were intended to help combat terrorism, immigration abuse, and benefit fraud, and were linked to a central National Identity Register.

However, the scheme faced widespread opposition on civil liberties grounds and was criticised for being expensive, intrusive, and ineffective. In 2010, the incoming Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government scrapped the programme and destroyed the database. At the time, the Home Secretary called it a “high-cost, high-risk” scheme that offered little public benefit.

Although the new digital ID plan differs in format, with no central identity register and no requirement to carry or show ID in public, it seems that many of the same concerns about privacy and state overreach have re-emerged.

Encrypted

Although the digital ID will be held on a person’s phone in the form of a secure app-based wallet, similar to the NHS app or mobile payment cards, it will use encrypted, on-device storage so that if a phone is lost, the credential can be immediately revoked and reissued.

For Working Legally

Current right-to-work rules already require employers to check and retain copies of identity documents, such as passports or biometric residence permits, or to use the Home Office online service. Civil penalties for non-compliance can be up to £60,000 per illegal worker for repeat offences.

Ministers say the new digital ID will therefore reduce the risk of fraud, speed up hiring, and close off loopholes that currently allow the use of borrowed or forged documents. It is also intended to help enforcement agencies identify patterns of non-compliance across the labour market, including in casual and gig economy roles.

According to the Cabinet Office, “a new streamlined digital system to check right to work will simplify the process, drive up compliance, crack down on forged documents and create intelligence data on businesses.”

Border Security

The policy has also been presented by the Prime Minister as a key part of the government’s approach to tackling illegal migration (which has been much in the news lately). In a statement issued through Downing Street, he said: “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure.”

He added: “We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division. That is at the heart of our Plan for Change.”

Ministers argue that access to informal work is a major incentive for people entering the country without permission. By requiring all legal workers to use digital ID, the government hopes to reduce the so-called “pull factor” of illegal employment.

What Is (And Isn’t) Required

The government says the digital ID will be required only for those seeking paid employment. There are no plans to require it for everyday activities such as accessing healthcare or public spaces, and people will not be expected to carry proof of identity at all times. For example, the government materials explicitly state that “there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it” outside of employment-related checks.

However, the digital ID is expected to become increasingly useful for other tasks, such as accessing childcare, welfare, or tax records. It’s understood these uses will be optional, with ministers presenting them as convenience features rather than legal requirements.

Access And Inclusion

While the system is designed primarily for smartphone use, ministers have also confirmed that physical alternatives will be made available for people who are digitally excluded. This may include older people, those experiencing homelessness, or individuals without regular access to internet-connected devices.

Consultation Planned

A formal public consultation will launch later this year, seeking input on how to design the system inclusively. The government says this will include engagement with charities and local authorities, as well as face-to-face outreach and support services.

The Cabinet Office says the aim is to create “a service that takes the best aspects of the digital identification systems that are already up and running around the world,” while ensuring it “works for those who aren’t able to use a smartphone.”

Used In Other Countries

Some other countries already have working digital ID schemes. Examples of these that the UK’s digital ID model draws on include Estonia, Denmark, Australia, and India. For example:

– In Estonia, citizens use a mandatory digital ID for voting, healthcare, banking, and education, supported by strong encryption and decentralised systems.

– In Denmark, a MitID credential is used for logging into government and banking services, though it is not compulsory for all citizens.

– Australia’s national Digital ID system allows residents to access public services through apps like myGov, with varying levels of identity strength depending on the use case.

– In India, the Aadhaar system assigns a unique biometric ID number to over a billion people, primarily to streamline welfare and reduce fraud.

Ministers say the UK version will focus on privacy by design, with data stored locally on the user’s device and shared selectively.

Public Reaction And Political Response

The announcement has triggered a divided response across the political spectrum. Supporters argue it will modernise outdated systems and improve national security, while opponents say it risks overreach and mission creep.

More than one million people have already signed a Parliamentary petition opposing the introduction of digital ID, with civil liberties groups warning of long-term consequences for personal freedom. For example, Big Brother Watch, a UK-based privacy campaign group, said: “Plans for a mandatory digital ID would make us all reliant on a digital pass to go about our daily lives, turning us into a checkpoint society that is wholly un-British.”

Also, Liberty, the human rights organisation, expressed concern, stating that the proposals raise “huge concerns about mass surveillance” and could increase barriers for vulnerable people trying to access work or support.

Opposition politicians have also criticised both the scale of the scheme and the lack of debate. For example, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has questioned the cost, saying the government should focus on better enforcement of existing laws. The SNP and Northern Ireland’s First Minister have also raised concerns about the implications for devolved powers and the rights of Irish citizens.

Employers And Service Providers

Businesses will need to adjust their onboarding and compliance processes once the new system is in place. The government says it will issue new guidance and offer integration options, but employers may face practical questions around adoption timelines, system compatibility, and staff training.

The Home Office is expected to update its employer toolkits and codes of practice during the rollout. Officials have said the changes will reduce red tape in the long term but acknowledge that transitional support may be needed.

There is no requirement yet for employers to take any action, but the digital ID scheme is likely to become the default verification method once legislation is passed. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has said it is working with industry groups and software providers to ensure compatibility and reduce disruption.

Security And Safeguards

In terms of security and privacy, according to the Cabinet Office, the digital ID will use “state-of-the-art encryption and user authentication to ensure data is held and accessed securely.” The information will remain under the control of the user, stored on their device and not in a centralised database.

The government says the system is designed to limit personal data sharing, with users able to present only the specific information required for a given situation. For example, an employer might only see proof of work eligibility without accessing unrelated personal details.

If a device is lost or compromised, the credential can be cancelled and reissued. The government says this offers better protection than paper-based documents, which are easier to forge or misuse.

Challenges And Unanswered Questions

Despite assurances around data security and voluntary usage beyond employment, it must be said that there remain some unresolved concerns about the scope and risks of the new digital ID system. For example:

– Inclusion will require careful planning and proper resourcing to ensure fair access for people without smartphones, stable housing, or standard documents.

– Privacy and data safety remain a concern, with campaigners warning that even encrypted systems are not immune to hacking or misuse.

– Cost and complexity are still unclear, as the government has not yet published a full estimate of programme costs or explained how the rollout will be phased.

– Public trust will be critical, especially given the level of opposition from civil liberties groups and the wider concerns already raised across Parliament.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

If delivered effectively, it’s possible to see how a digital ID scheme could bring some long-term operational benefits to UK businesses, i.e. by reducing the administrative burden of right-to-work checks and making fraud harder to commit. A single, standardised credential could simplify hiring, especially in sectors where temporary or remote onboarding is common. Employers, however, will want clear timelines, technical support, and assurance that they won’t be exposed to new liabilities during the transition.

Public reaction to the scheme is likely to remain mixed. While those in work will be legally required to adopt the new system, others may choose to use it to access public services more easily. The success of the rollout will depend heavily on how well the government delivers inclusive access for people who do not have smartphones or consistent digital connectivity. Ministers have promised support and consultation, but this remains a key point of scrutiny.

However, it’s clear already that the wider political and civil liberties questions are unlikely to go away. Campaigners continue to warn of surveillance risks and creeping functionality, especially if the ID becomes more widely used in everyday life over time. The comparison with previous ID card proposals is unavoidable. Although this version is digital-only, decentralised, and limited in scope, it revives long-standing concerns about privacy and state control.

As with other large digital infrastructure programmes, the practical outcomes will depend on delivery, not just design. That includes building trust, preventing mission creep, and ensuring the system works reliably in the real world. For now, businesses and citizens alike will be watching closely as the consultation opens and the legislation begins its passage through Parliament.

In this Tech Insight, we look at how a new generation of digital platforms and community initiatives is rising to meet the growing UK demand for meaningful friendship, tackling loneliness through apps, events, and innovative social design that prioritises connection over dating.

A Growing Demand (And Rising Cost)

Loneliness in the UK is no longer just a personal struggle, but is now a public health issue. For example, according to the government’s 2023–24 Community Life Survey, around 3.1 million people in England report feeling lonely “often or always.” The Office for National Statistics puts the broader figure closer to 1 in 4 adults when occasional loneliness is included.

It seems that young people are among the most affected. Adults aged 16–24 are consistently more likely to report high levels of loneliness than any other age group. The same is true for people living in deprived areas, those with disabilities, and individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex registered at birth.

In health terms, the consequences are serious. For example, prolonged loneliness has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and even early death. In fact, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness “a greater threat to health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”

Why now?

Several factors have created new urgency, and opportunity, for digital tools focused on friendship, such as:

– Post-pandemic social gaps. Covid disrupted many people’s social routines. Friendships thinned out, and some never recovered.

-Life transitions. Moving for work, returning from university, post-divorce, all create social disconnection.

– Dating app fatigue. Many younger users are burned out by ghosting, mismatched intentions, or pressure in romantic spaces.

– Desire for real-world connection. There’s growing appetite for platforms that lead to shared experiences, not just online chat.

– Social infrastructure decline. Pubs, churches, clubs, and libraries aren’t what they were. New tools are stepping in to fill the gap.

Friendship-First Apps Gaining Ground

This growing demand has meant that several new and emerging apps are now tackling platonic connection head-on, with different approaches to solving the problem. Examples of these include:

Clyx

London-based, launched in 2023, and aimed directly at building real-life friendships. It scrapes event listings (from Ticketmaster, TikTok and others), then lets users see who’s attending and suggests potential matches based on shared interests. The app recently raised $14 million and is gaining traction with young adults looking for local events and new faces.

Gofrendly

This has a growing UK user base, especially among women. It focuses on interest matching, local discovery, and verified profiles to encourage safe, meaningful friendships, not dating. It’s one of the more community-led platforms in this space.

Bumble BFF

A mode within the main Bumble app that lets users connect platonically. Benefits from scale and user familiarity, but some users still report confusion about intentions, as the app straddles both friendship and romance.

Peanut

Originally created for new mums, Peanut now supports women across life stages, including those navigating menopause or fertility. It blends interest-based communities with discussion boards, making it a more supportive and topic-led experience.

Patook

This app is strictly platonic, with rules that penalise flirtation. It’s aimed at people who want clarity about the nature of their connections.

Hey! VINA

Marketed as “Tinder for girlfriends,” this app is designed to help women find new female friends, often during life transitions or moves to new cities.

Friender

A more traditional matching app that connects users based on shared activities, from walking to photography.

Timeleft

Focuses on time-based group meetups, e.g. 7 strangers meeting at 7pm. Aims to reduce the awkwardness of one-to-one planning.

Wyzr Friends, Les Amís, Pie, Meet5, BFF

Other platforms with varying levels of UK presence. Many focus on events or interest groups, but success often depends on having enough users in each area.

vTime XR

A UK-developed app offering avatar-based conversations in shared 3D virtual spaces. This is an example of more experimental social design, perhaps appealing to more tech-savvy users.

Other Ways To Connect Digitally

Obviously, not all digital friendship-building happens on dedicated apps. For example, some people find new friends in forums, comment sections, local Facebook or WhatsApp groups. Others use platforms like Reddit, Discord or Meetup to join interest-based spaces that lead to real-world interaction.

These alternatives may lack the structure of a matching app, but often feel more organic, and have the advantage of existing community momentum.

UK Initiatives Tackling Loneliness

It should be noted that the UK also has a growing number of non-app projects that support social connection in different ways. A few that stand out include:

The Chatty Café Scheme

This encourages cafés to offer “chatter and natter” tables where anyone can sit down and talk. Over 600 UK venues have taken part. Low effort, high impact.

The Lonely Girls Club

A UK-based organisation helping women make friends. It runs walks, brunches and local meetups in cities including London, Manchester and Brighton. Over 145,000 members and growing.

Do It and local volunteering schemes

Volunteering is a tried-and-tested way to build friendships. Sites like Do It help people find causes to support locally, often leading to lasting connections.

NSPCC’s Building Connections

This pairs young people with trained volunteers via text chat to help tackle loneliness in under-19s. It’s a structured, supported approach that’s designed to build trust gradually.

Silver Line

A free helpline for older people who feel lonely or isolated. Offers conversation, advice, and links to services.

Social prescribing

GPs and healthcare providers can now regularly refer patients to non-medical services, like walking clubs or creative groups, to help combat isolation. It’s a growing part of NHS practice.

The Gaps

Even with momentum, it seems that friendship apps and digital schemes face some difficult challenges. These include:

– User density. Many platforms only work well in big cities. In smaller towns, there just aren’t enough local users.

– Safety and moderation. Users want reassurance that people are who they say they are, and that harassment will be taken seriously.

– Drop-off after first contact. Even if a match is made, many connections fizzle out. Apps that don’t lead to real interaction risk compounding the loneliness they aim to solve.

– Unrealistic promises. No app can guarantee friendship. When expectations aren’t met, users may feel worse, not better.

– Privacy and data. Platforms must be careful not to over-collect personal data, or create social graphs that users wouldn’t want shared.

Where Businesses Fit In

Friendship isn’t just a personal issue. For example, loneliness affects productivity, mental health and team cohesion. With this in mind, ways in which forward-thinking employers are starting to act include:

– Social clubs and interest groups. Walking, running, book clubs and other low-stakes gatherings can help staff connect.

– Peer matching. Pairing employees for coffee chats, especially across departments, builds new bonds.

– Sponsored meetups. Subsidised lunches, away days, and wellbeing events give employees time and space to talk outside of work tasks.

– Coworking support. Remote staff can be encouraged to work from shared hubs once a week, keeping them socially active.

– Onboarding support. Helping new joiners build a social network, especially those who’ve moved, reduces early drop-off and increases engagement.

– Leadership by example. When senior staff take part in informal social activities, others follow.

Helping people build friendships at work isn’t just “nice to have”, but can also be very good business. For example, when people feel seen, included and socially healthy, they stay longer, perform better, and support others more effectively.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The rise of friendship apps and local initiatives reflects a growing effort to redesign how people find and build social connection in everyday life. It seems that these tools are no longer fringe or experimental but are now part of a wider ecosystem responding to a social problem that governments, charities, employers and individuals all recognise. For some users, these platforms offer a lifeline out of isolation. For others, they may simply provide a way to expand social circles, build support networks or feel more rooted in a new place.

That said, the picture is far from complete. For example, many of the tools gaining attention still rely on user density, active moderation and effective onboarding to work well. Without enough people nearby, or a clear route from match to meeting, the experience can quickly disappoint. Also, while digital platforms play an important role, they cannot replace the value of shared activity, physical presence or community familiarity that real-world connection offers.

That’s why non-app initiatives remain essential. For example, programmes like the Chatty Café Scheme or The Lonely Girls Club don’t just reduce friction, they change norms. They make conversation with strangers feel less unusual and give people permission to reach out without awkwardness. These models, grounded in familiarity and low-pressure interaction, can succeed in ways algorithms sometimes cannot.

For UK businesses, this raises new questions. Employers have become more focused on wellbeing in recent years, but friendship and social support often remain under-addressed. A lonely employee may not present as unwell, but over time the impact can be felt in engagement, collaboration and retention. That means employers are not just well-placed to help, they may be expected to. Practical steps like encouraging interest-based groups, supporting social meetups and offering flexible coworking options are not just soft benefits, but they are investments in team cohesion and long-term workforce resilience.

Policymakers will also need to think carefully. While loneliness is now recognised at a national level, digital inclusion, funding for local groups and access to social infrastructure will all shape how far these efforts reach. That includes ensuring these tools and spaces are safe, accessible and open to all, regardless of postcode, age, ability or income.

Ultimately, friendship is hard to manufacture but easy to overlook. What this growing sector of tools, platforms and initiatives reveals is that the need is clear, the demand is growing, and the routes to connection must be many, not just digital, but human, local and shared.