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THE PROSOCIAL STORY
BEGINNINGS
A Report Sparks a Realization
In 2023, Alexander Lang read a report released by the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy declaring the United States to be in the midst of a loneliness epidemic.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation are so common that nearly half of all Americans report having less than three close friends.
This is when Alex had an epiphany: One of the most depleted resources in American society is community.
Unless there are intentional efforts to counteract this trend, the loneliness epidemic will only accelerate.
Since traditional community organizations no longer appeal to the younger generations, we have to completely rethink our approach to how we build community in the United States.
ProSocial was born out of this need.
PROSOCIAL IS BORN
Two Key Insights
After performing customer research, Alex uncovered two major findings that were not being discussed more broadly in the loneliness literature.
Alex's first key insight was discovering that many people are actively participating in hobbies and social groups that provide them with real world social opportunities (e.g. exercise classes, dance, yoga, hiking clubs, book clubs, etc.), yet they still struggle to form meaningful connections.
For many people, they actively seek out situations where they can form friendships, but the connections being formed are often shallow and superficial.
It's almost as if we've regressed in our ability to establish meaningful friendships.
Alex's second key insight was understanding that many in the younger generations have fully abandoned traditional community organizations.
No matter how much those organizations change and adapt to the times, the younger generations will never return, which means, as these institutions die, we have to completely reassess how our society will access community.
ProSocial is designed to address both of these problems.
FROM IDEA TO REALITY
Creating Meaningful Connections
The solution Alex envisioned to address these problems requires flipping the traditional methods for building community.
Since people are already actively entering spaces where potential exists for connection and friendship, they simply require a social accelerant.
ProSocial approaches businesses, non-profits or social groups and offers facilitated small group sessions for interested participants.
Known as ProSocial Circles, these 30-50 minute small group sessions are facilitated following the service offered by the organization.
For example, following a yoga class, those interested in forming deeper connections could stay for a ProSocial Circle gathering that would recur weekly or biweekly.
The content of these gatherings are designed to cut past superficial conversation into meaningful discourse about connection, everyday happiness, and shared experience.
The current goal is to test ProSocial Circles across a variety of businesses, non-profits and social groups in 2026 so that in 2027 ProSocial can begin training facilitators to lead Circle gatherings in 2028.
Our Journey: Past, Present & Future
