How many times have you picked up your phone to check one thing and found yourself still scrolling 30 minutes later?
asserted
yourself → pick → thing
I know I've done it.
asserted
I → know → it
Our phones make it incredibly easy to stay connected.
asserted
it → make → ?
Yet something interesting seems to be happening at the same time.
asserted
something → seem → time
Many people are looking for more reasons to put those phones down and spend time with other people in the real world.
asserted
people → look → world
Run clubs are growing.
asserted
clubs → grow → ?
Local gatherings are drawing attention.
asserted
gatherings → draw → attention
Phone-free events are popping up.
asserted
events → pop → ?
People seem hungry for experiences that feel a little less like another feed.
asserted
that → seem → feed
That raises an interesting question: Could the same technology that keeps pulling us online also help get us back into real life?
uncertain
that → raise → life
She wants people to use their phones to discover something happening nearby, make a plan and then go experience it.
asserted
people → want → it
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asserted
you → get → doctor
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asserted
experience → need → ?
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More people are looking beyond the screen
asserted
people → save → screen
Eventbrite's 2026 Social Study surveyed people ages 18 to 35 in the U.S. and U.K.
asserted
Study → survey → U.S.
It found that 79% planned to attend more events in 2026.
asserted
% → find → 2026
Among Gen Z respondents, 46% said they were limiting screen time and 74% said in-person experiences were more important than digital ones.
asserted
experiences → say → ones
Now, keep in mind that this research comes from Eventbrite, a company whose business revolves around live events.
asserted
business → keep → events
Still, those numbers line up with something we are seeing play out in the real world.
asserted
we → line → world
Eventbrite says phone-free experiences listed on its platform grew 567% globally between 2024 and 2025.
asserted
experiences → say → 2024
Attendance at those events rose 121%.
asserted
Attendance → rise → events
The company based those numbers on events that used "phone-free" terminology in their title or description.
asserted
that → base → title
For people who have spent years with a smartphone within arm's reach, intentionally putting it away feels significant.
asserted
putting → spend → it
It also creates an unusual opening for technology.
asserted
It → create → technology
Instead of asking how an app can keep you scrolling longer, what if the goal becomes helping you find something worth closing the app for?
asserted
you → ask → app
One young founder saw an opportunity
That is where O'Connor comes in.
asserted
O'Connor → see → opportunity
She told CyberGuy that the idea for NewTree grew partly from her own experience living in Washington, D.C. without an established group of friends.
asserted
idea → tell → friends
Her experience changed depending on where she lived and whether she could find places where meeting new people felt natural.
uncertain
meeting → change → people
At the same time, she was watching interest grow around run clubs, wellness events, social clubs and other in-person experiences.
asserted
interest → watch → person
So she started building around that behavior.
asserted
she → start → behavior
NewTree is designed to help people discover local activities and meet others through something they already want to do.
asserted
they → design → something
I think that part is important.
asserted
part → think → ?
Walking into a room of strangers solely because you are supposed to meet people can feel awkward.
asserted
you → walk → people
Walking into a fitness class, community event or gathering you already find interesting gives you a reason to be there before you ever introduce yourself.
asserted
you → walk → yourself
For someone who recently moved or simply wants to expand a social circle, that could make taking the first step a little easier.
uncertain
taking → move → step
NewTree wants your scrolling to lead somewhere
Open NewTree and the basic experience should feel familiar.
asserted
experience → want → NewTree
You browse events nearby.
asserted
You → browse → events
You can RSVP and get reminders about something you want to attend.
But the idea behind that feed is a little different.
asserted
idea → rsvp → feed
O'Connor comes from a graphic design background and told CyberGuy that she deliberately wanted NewTree to feel more like a social platform than a traditional events directory.
asserted
NewTree → come → directory
The app currently focuses on community, fitness and wellness events around Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater.
asserted
app → focus → Tampa
…and 77 more, not listed.
The Aporia
