The Science Behind Twos
Twos is built on a growing body of research showing that conversations with strangers, even over video, can boost your happiness, connection, and sense of meaning. Below are the key studies that inspire and validate our mission.
“In a key study, the single greatest boost to happiness came from a 15-minute video call with a stranger.”
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Chief Scientist of Twos & author of The How of Happiness
In collaboration with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky’s lab at UC Riverside, we’re running an experimental study with hundreds of participants. Each completes assessments before and after a 15-minute video call with a stranger, helping us measure how these conversations affect mood, connection, and wellbeing.
Study: App-Based Conversation with Stranger Study
Results expected early 2026.
In the most directly relevant study to Twos, researchers recorded 1,656 natural conversations between strangers over online video chat, each lasting ~25 minutes. Participants were matched automatically and reflected on the experience afterward.
Key findings: • Participants felt significantly happier after the call, a consistent increase in positive affect • People underestimated how much they were liked by their partner ("the liking gap") • Faster, more natural turn-taking was linked to greater enjoyment and connection • These benefits held across ages and demographics
"At least for individuals that voluntarily opted into a conversation with a stranger, the act significantly boosted positive affect, consistently across the lifespan."
📄 Reece, Cooney, et al. (2023): https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf3197
Ready to try it?
Join thousands of people having meaningful conversations with kind strangers.