Toronto man aims to make the TTC a little less lonely

Minjae Cho, known online as Magnetic MJ, greets strangers on the TTC, records brief interactions with Meta glasses and has more than 200,000 followers; officials and mental-health experts say small acts of kindness can matter amid widening loneliness in Toronto.

Minjae Cho, who posts as Magnetic MJ, greets and offers short affirmations to strangers on TTC vehicles and around the city. He records many interactions with Meta glasses and has grown a following of more than 200,000 people. Cho says the project began as a personal effort to rebuild social confidence after a lonely period and later became focused on the TTC as a place that brings diverse people together. City officials and mental-health professionals have noted the roles small interactions can play in addressing social isolation. What we know: - Minjae Cho greets riders on the Toronto Transit Commission and sometimes gives handwritten notes or small gifts while recording interactions with Meta glasses. - He has built a social media following of more than 200,000 people and calls one initiative the “I Love You Challenge.” - During that challenge, several passengers responded emotionally; some approached him for hugs and said the messages helped during difficult times. - TTC CEO Mandeep Lali said the posts convey joy, noted Cho told the TTC interactions are consensual, and thanked him for brightening customers’ days. - Christina Gallo, a psychotherapist with CMHA Toronto, said loneliness has increased in the city and that brief, vulnerable interactions can be meaningful; a 2023 Toronto Foundation report and 2025 Statistics Canada data were cited showing notable levels of loneliness locally and nationally. Summary: Cho’s actions have resonated with many Torontonians and come amid data indicating loneliness remains a common experience in the city. Officials and mental-health specialists have commented on the potential value of small acts of connection, and Cho has expanded his work into an online community called Social Reset; further developments are undetermined at this time.