Why 95% of Young Adults Are Ditching DMs for Real-World Meetups (And How Gather AI Can Help SMEs Lead the Charge)
Did you know nearly every young adult you know is secretly desperate to get off their phone and actually meet up in person?
No, really—95%. That’s not just a random stat I plucked out of thin air. The DeWitt Observer recently dropped a headline that basically screamed: “Real connections are back with the rise of offline meetups.” And honestly, when was the last time a group chat made you feel genuinely connected? (Didn’t think so.)
The DM Hangover: Why We’re All Craving Real Life Again
Let’s be honest. We’ve spent years glued to screens—swiping, scrolling, double-tapping, pretending that a quick emoji reply is “community.” But here’s the thing: Most brands? They’re still stuck in 2020, running “communities” that are just endless Facebook groups and unopened emails. No wonder everyone’s checked out.
But walk into a room full of actual people—hear the laughter, see the body language, feel that spark when ideas bounce around—and suddenly, you remember what real connection feels like. You can’t fake that with a DM. You just can’t.
The Offline-First Revolution: It’s Not Just a Trend, It’s a Movement
We’re witnessing a legit shift. Young adults are leading it, but honestly, everyone’s feeling it. There’s a kind of magic that only happens when you get people together in the real world.
- Ideas flow faster
- Trust builds naturally
- People leave with stories, not just screenshots
And when you nail that? Your “online community” stops being numbers on a screen. It becomes a tribe. A crew. People who’ve actually shared a moment together.
Why Most SMEs Are Missing Out (And Don’t Even Realise It)
Here’s the kicker: Most small and medium businesses are letting this opportunity slip right through their fingers. They’re busy chasing “engagement” on socials when the real action is happening offline.
But what if you could be the brand that actually brings people together—in your town, your industry, your scene?
But what if you could be the brand that actually brings people together—in your town, your industry, your scene?
That’s where Gather AI comes in.
Gather AI: The App That Turns Your Business Into a Real-World Community Magnet
Let’s cut the fluff. Gather AI is a web app that helps you go from “we should do an event” to actually having a room full of people who want to be there.
How does it work? Dead simple:
- You give it your business details—name, description, location, values, audience, goals, preferred events, even your budget and favourite venues.
- It spits out a totally tailored, offline-first plan.
- Custom event ideas that make sense for your brand (not just generic “host a quiz night” stuff)
- Step-by-step checklists so you don’t miss a trick
- Proven tactics for turning in-person guests into active online community members
- Actionable, no-fluff plans you can actually use
What Gather AI doesn’t do:
It doesn’t just guess venues or partners for you. It works with your real info, so you get a plan that fits your situation—no “one size fits all” nonsense.
It doesn’t just guess venues or partners for you. It works with your real info, so you get a plan that fits your situation—no “one size fits all” nonsense.
Why SMEs Should Be Leading This Charge (Not Watching From the Sidelines)
Let’s get real. Running a small business is hard. Competing with big brands? Even harder. But here’s your edge:
You can actually show up.
You’re local. You’re real. You can shake hands, share a coffee, laugh with your customers face-to-face. Big brands can’t do that, no matter how many TikToks they post.
You can actually show up.
You’re local. You’re real. You can shake hands, share a coffee, laugh with your customers face-to-face. Big brands can’t do that, no matter how many TikToks they post.
When your community is built on real experiences, people stick around. They become advocates, not just followers.
Gather AI Is Part of AI Tools With Alex: The Ultimate Growth Engine
And here’s the bonus: Gather AI isn’t some random, standalone tool. It’s part of the AI Tools With Alex suite—a full toolkit for growth. That means you get:
- Content creation tools
- Social media automation
- Email marketing
- All the behind-the-scenes magic, so you can focus on building something real
Ready to Build a Community That Actually Shows Up?
Forget chasing vanity metrics. Forget being just another forgotten DM.
This is your chance to create moments people actually remember.
If you’re ready to move from “likes” to lasting loyalty, make your next event the start of something real.
This is your chance to create moments people actually remember.
If you’re ready to move from “likes” to lasting loyalty, make your next event the start of something real.
Let’s build something that lasts—offline, online, and everywhere in between.
