# People Using Web to Get Offline By Eyes-n-Ears | Published 2006-07-12 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/people-using-web-to-get-offline References: [meetup](http://www.meetup.com) & [meetup](http://www.meetup.com/cities/) Forget My Space. Get real. Meetup. Meetup.com has been around for a couple years, but the trend is starting to take off. Initially, it seemed that the service was being used to help various [interest groups 'meet-up'](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/group-chat-bar) for coffee, etc. Now, not only does the service help people [find others who share their interest](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phnk) or cause, but it is helping them form lasting, influential, local community groups that regularly meet face-to-face. The group shown in the picture is the NYC Kayak Club. Meetup Groups help people: - Rise up, stand up, unite, and make a difference - Find others who share their interests - Get involved locally - Learn, teach, and share things - Make friends and have fun - Be a part of something bigger locally and globally ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 6% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/internet) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Offline Community Building:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a platform that facilitates offline community building, enabling people to connect and form lasting local groups. - **Interest-based Networking:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a social networking platform that focuses on connecting people based on their shared interests, fostering meaningful connections. - **Localized Social Impact:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a platform that empowers individuals to take local action and make a difference in their communities, fostering a sense of social impact. ### Where This Applies - **Social Networking:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the social networking industry by developing a platform that goes beyond online interactions and emphasizes offline community engagement. - **Community Development:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Redefine community development approaches by leveraging technology to facilitate the establishment and growth of local, impactful groups. - **Event Management:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the event management industry by creating a platform that not only facilitates event organization but also fosters long-term community building and impact. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Real-Life Connection Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offlinery.md) - [Hyperlocal Social Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hyperlocal-social-networks.md) - [Group Location Sharing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kliq.md) - [Group Meetup Planners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/letsfinallymeet.md) - [Social Networking Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/internet-social-caf.md) - [Retro Phone-Free Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/before-the-internet.md) - [Localized Networking Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/presence.md) - [Meetup-Encouraging Social Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mozi-private-social-network.md) - [Friend-Finding Virtual Hangouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strangely.md)