Koya
Hey, I'm Koya! Content editor at GRASS, and you'll find me on a trail or by the ocean most weekends. I've been leading outdoor clubs since college and firmly believe that friendships forged through shared adventures outlast any swipe. At GRASS, I turned that passion into a career — researching dating psychology, reviewing dating apps hands-on, and interviewing real GRASS users about their stories. I hope my writing gives you a reason to step outside and meet someone worth the adventure.
GRASS Content Editor · 5+ years in outdoor communities · Reviewed 20+ dating apps
Latest Articles
The Gen Z Friendship Revolution: Why the Most Connected Generation Is Rebuilding Social Life from Scratch
80% of Gen Z reports feeling lonely. They spend 156 hours a year on dating apps for just 6 meaningful connections. Global data reveals a generation-wide shift: Gen Z is abandoning swipe culture for run clubs, outdoor activities, and real-world communities.
Touch Grass Dating: Why Gen Z Is Ditching Apps and Finding Love Outside — And How to Join the Movement
"Go touch grass" started as an internet insult. In 2026, it's become a dating philosophy. Gen Z is walking away from dating apps, and the data backs them up: run club memberships up 59%, "friending" events up 35%, and nearly half of Gen Z is choosing to meet people IRL instead of through algorithms. Here's what's driving the movement — and how to actually do it.
GRASS vs Tinder: Swiping Culture vs Activity Culture — Which Actually Leads to Real Dates?
Tinder pioneered the swipe. GRASS wants to kill it. One app gives you 2 billion daily swipes worth of options; the other asks you to put your phone down and go outside. An honest 6-dimension comparison between the world's most downloaded dating app and the outdoor dating app that's betting on a completely different approach.
Hinge vs GRASS: "Designed to Be Deleted" Meets "Designed to Get You Outside" — An Honest Comparison
Hinge wants you to find love through clever prompts and curated profiles. GRASS wants you to find connection through shared outdoor adventures. Both claim to be different from Tinder — but they take radically different approaches. A 6-dimension comparison to help you decide which philosophy fits your dating style.
The Outdoor Activity Dating Map: 8 Activities × Best Locations to Meet Someone While Doing What You Love
Research shows shared activities build significantly stronger connections than online chatting. From trail running to climbing gyms, kayaking to run clubs — a complete guide to 8 outdoor activities perfect for meeting people in the US, with top locations, difficulty ratings, and social scores.
AI Is Changing How You Date: 3 Trends Reshaping Dating in 2026 — And Why Meeting IRL Matters More Than Ever
80% of young Americans are comfortable with AI-assisted dating. Tinder is testing AI matchmaking. 1 in 5 US adults have interacted with an AI romantic partner. But Coffee Meets Bagel warns: bot-assisted flirting creates expectation mismatches when people meet IRL. A deep dive into 2026 AI dating trends — and why real-world connection is more irreplaceable than ever.
The Complete Guide to GRASS: Every Feature Explained, From Download to Your First Group Adventure
The definitive guide to GRASS — the outdoor activity dating app. Learn how to set up your Outdoor Passport, use Find Buddy and Group Adventures, understand the safety system, and discover 7 pro tips to build meaningful connections through real experiences.
The Paradox of Choice in Dating Apps: Why More Options Lead to Fewer Connections
Research shows that unlimited dating app options trigger a rejection mindset, reducing acceptance rates by 27%. From the famous Jam Study to 2025 dating research, discover how the paradox of choice sabotages modern dating — and why activity-based connections beat endless swiping.
Run Clubs Are the New Dating Apps: Why Gen Z Is Trading Swipes for Sneakers in 2026
Strava reports 59% growth in run club membership. One in five runners has dated someone they met at a run club. From NYC to London to Taipei, run clubs are replacing dating apps as Gen Z's preferred way to meet people. Here's why running works better than swiping.
The Slow Dating Movement: Why Taking It Slow Is the Smartest Dating Strategy in 2026
Tired of endless swiping with nothing to show for it? The Slow Dating movement is redefining how people find meaningful connections in 2026. Backed by data from Bumble, Hinge, and behavioral science research, this intentional approach to dating proves that less really is more.
Social Anxiety and Outdoor Activities: Why Nature Might Be the Best Social Setting You're Not Using
Research shows that natural environments significantly reduce cortisol levels (Hunter et al., 2019) and that side-by-side activities generate less social pressure than face-to-face interactions. For the 15 million American adults living with social anxiety disorder, outdoor group activities offer a scientifically supported path to building connections without the overwhelming pressure of traditional social settings.
The 50-Hour Friendship Rule: How Long It Really Takes to Make a Friend, According to Science
University of Kansas researcher Jeffrey Hall found it takes roughly 50 hours of socializing to move from acquaintance to casual friend, 90 hours to become a real friend, and 200+ hours for close friendship. This "50-Hour Friendship Rule" explains why swipe-based matching struggles to create real bonds—and why activity-based socializing works better.