Lonely New Yorkers seeking friends are turning to paid platonic matchmaking services — with mixed results

Maria Simulescu

Everything costs money in today’s NYC — even making a friend. Every day, from packed subway cars to pedestrian-choked sidewalks, go-go Gothamites are surrounded by millions of other people wondering how to find more meaningful friendships — forever a challenge in this fast-paced city, and now even more so in the smartphone-obsessed modern age. To bridge (and tunnel) the widening connection gap, Big Apple bond-hunters are increasingly banking on a growing number of paid pal-finding services —