Young People Are Flocking to an Exclusive Dating App With Years-Long Waiting Lists

Raya, an invitation-only dating app, now attracts 40 percent of its monthly applicants from Gen Z — people raised on social platforms that reward exclusivity. Some users wait seven years to join. The app originally served entertainment professionals, but its scarcity model continues drawing younger users accustomed to gatekeeping. It raises a question: does being hard to access keep people interested over time.