About YaraLoop
A research and insights platform exploring the science of human connection.
Our Mission
YaraLoop exists to make loneliness and friendship research accessible. We believe that understanding the science of human connection is the first step toward solving one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time.
The data is stark: 1 in 2 young adults report feeling lonely. The WHO has declared social disconnection a global health priority. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, running for 85 years, has identified relationships as the single strongest predictor of happiness and health. Yet this research remains scattered across academic journals, inaccessible to the people who need it most.
We synthesize findings from psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and public health into clear, actionable insights. No clickbait. No unsupported claims. Just research, data, and what it means for how we live and connect.
What We Cover
Loneliness Research
Synthesizing global data on the loneliness epidemic, from the WHO advisory to national-level surveys across 8+ countries.
Friendship Formation Science
What 80+ years of psychology research tells us about how friendships form, deepen, and endure.
Digital Wellbeing
Examining how technology shapes social connection, from the paradox of social media to the promise of intentional digital tools.
Social Connection Data
Tracking longitudinal studies, happiness reports, and population-level data on how humans connect across cultures.
Our Relationship to YaraCircle
YaraLoop is a research initiative by YaraCircle, a social platform designed around the science of friendship formation. The research we cover here directly informs how YaraCircle is built, from its matching algorithms to its conversation design.
YaraCircle was created because the research demanded it. Studies show that meaningful friendships require repeated, unplanned interaction and gradual self-disclosure. Most social platforms optimize for engagement, not connection. YaraCircle optimizes for the conditions that research shows actually produce friendship.
YaraLoop is where we share that research openly, regardless of whether it supports our product decisions. Intellectual honesty is the foundation of trust, and trust is the foundation of everything we build.
Our Standards
- Cite primary sources: Every claim links back to peer-reviewed research, government data, or established institutional studies.
- Distinguish correlation from causation: We are precise about what the data does and does not show.
- Update when wrong: If newer research contradicts a previous article, we update it with a clear correction notice.
- Separate editorial from evidence: When we offer our interpretation beyond what the data shows, we say so explicitly.
Contact
Have questions, research suggestions, or corrections? We welcome all of it.
- Email: hello@yaracircle.com
- Twitter: @yaracircle
See the Research in Action
YaraCircle is built on the friendship science we cover here.