Overview
- Ackman urged young men to approach strangers with the line “May I meet you?”, arguing online culture stifles spontaneous meetings and later advising it works best while in motion on subways, elevators and sidewalks.
- His posts amassed roughly 26–27 million views and thousands of comments over the weekend, with the phrase quickly turning into a widely shared meme template.
- Users documented real-world and in‑app attempts — from subway videos to Hinge messages — showing mixed results, as Ackman replied to some skeptics by encouraging persistence.
- Experts offered nuanced takes: former Tinder and Bumble sociologist Jess Carbino said the idea taps loneliness and a need for structure, though the phrasing may feel too formal for Gen Z.
- Critics highlighted how height, wealth and context can affect outcomes, while longtime acquaintance Whitney Tilson recalled Ackman using the line successfully in college, especially on New York subways.