In recent months, a growing number of young adults have turned to letter writing and pen pal exchanges as a nostalgic and meaningful form of communication amid a digitally saturated world. What began as a simple call for “summer buddy” pen pals on TikTok by content creator Em-J Staples has blossomed into a wider movement embracing analog connections.
Staples, a 37-year-old Bay Area resident and mother, rekindled her childhood experience of having a pen pal in Girl Scouts by inviting others to find summer correspondents through handwritten or emailed letters. Her invitation quickly went viral, amassing over 330,000 views and attracting 14,000 sign-ups via a compatibility questionnaire on Google Forms.
This resurgence of pen pal culture resonates strongly with “zillennials,” those on the cusp between millennials and Generation Z, who seek refuge in what has been described as “whimsy” — a term used online to characterize playful, spontaneous lifestyle choices rooted in analog traditions. For many, letter writing offers a slower, more deliberate alternative to the pace and public nature of digital communication.
University students Mallory Ensing, 20, and Simme S., also 20, both active on TikTok, connected through a mutual call for pen pals in January and have since exchanged handwritten letters every three to four weeks. Although they have never met in person, their letters range from casual discussions about music to deeper, more personal conversations. Simme noted that letter writing allows her, as an introvert, time to carefully consider her responses without the pressure of real-time interaction.
Other young adults share similar sentiments. Sophia Hue, a college senior in Idaho, has sustained pen pal relationships for eight months, appreciating the flexibility and comfort that come with correspondence free of face-to-face expectations. For some, the relationship culminates in in-person meetings. Juliana Romeo, a 33-year-old active-duty U.S. Air Force member posted in Germany, recently traveled to England to meet one of her four TikTok-connected pen pals, describing the experience as rewarding and enriching.
While pen pal exchanges thrive online, pen pal matchmaking has become more organized since 2020, coinciding with increased interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Agus Panzoni, head of culture strategy at the trend platform Death to Stock, explained that this trend reflects a desire to escape communication formats optimized for speed and convenience on digital platforms, favoring instead a slower, more intentional mode of connecting.
Recent initiatives include Toronto-based internet artist Emma Orhun’s Valentine’s Day pen pal matchmaking campaign, which attracted 23,000 participants, highlighting a widespread sense of loneliness and the appeal of low-effort, meaningful interaction. Similarly, Brooklyn-based writer Rachel Syme has continued to facilitate pen pal pairings through direct social media interaction, building on the success of her 2020 project Penpalooza, which once had 15,000 subscribers.
Syme, author of the 2025 guide “Syme’s Letter Writer,” noted that many seek a “safe place to communicate” away from the public and often alienating nature of digital platforms. For those involved, the act of writing and receiving mail carries a sense of sacredness that contrasts with today’s fast-paced, surveillance-prone digital environment.