Hey there!
We created Zakaya because we're tackling a real problem: loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory, about half of all American adults experience loneliness — and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic further isolated many people from their support systems.
A landmark meta-analysis in the journal PLOS Medicine found that individuals with stronger social relationships have a 50% increased likelihood of survival compared to those with weaker social connections. The study concluded that "the influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality" like smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
Our goal is simple but meaningful – we're building spaces where people form genuine connections, not just collect followers or subscribers. As psychologist Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, puts it in his popular TED Talk: "Good relationships don't just protect our bodies; they protect our brains."
Our Approach
Join most online communities and you'll quickly notice something: even in groups with thousands of members, you'll only recognize a handful of people at best.
Zakaya takes a different path. We're creating communities where you have the chance to know most of the people you interact with. Where conversations feel like catching up with friends rather than talking to strangers. It's about quality connections, not just quantity.
Research from MIT's Social Computing Group reveals that "reciprocal friendships are more intimate, provide higher emotional support, and form a superior resource of social capital" compared to one-sided connections. This complements the "Dunbar number" concept, which suggests humans can maintain only about 150 meaningful connections. Our spaces are designed with these human relationship limitations in mind.
Our Team
Just real people who believe online spaces can be more meaningful:
Say Hello
Got thoughts, questions, or just want to chat? We'd love to hear from you! Research by Sherry Turkle in her book "Reclaiming Conversation" shows that digital interactions, when designed thoughtfully, can help bridge social gaps and foster meaningful connection in our increasingly digital world.
Drop us a line at [email protected]