On a crowded TTC bus, where most riders keep their heads down and their headphones in, Minjae Cho does the opposite.
He looks up, smiles and tells strangers exactly what they don’t expect to hear.
“Hope you have an amazing week.”
“Thank you for being a part of our city.”
Sometimes, he hands them a handwritten note or a small gift.
And sometimes, he just says three simple words: “I love you.”
Cho — who goes by the online name Magnetic MJ, has built a social media following of more than 200,000 people by turning everyday TTC rides and city sidewalks into moments of connection, affirmation and kindness.
His videos, recorded using Meta glasses, capture brief interactions with strangers that often end in smiles, laughter, and occasionally tears.
At a time when loneliness and social isolation remain widespread in Toronto and across Canada, his content has become something far more than just a feel-good scroll on the timeline.
“It started at a time when I was in a lonely disconnected part of my life where I wasn’t seeing that many people. I wanted to push myself to show up more openly in everyday life with social interactions, and to rebuild my social confidence,” Cho told CTV News Toronto.
Cho’s rise comes at a time when data suggests loneliness remains a serious issue in the city and across the country.
A Toronto Foundation report released in 2023 found 37 per cent of Torontonians — about 925,000 people — reported feeling lonely at least three or four days a week, placing Toronto among the loneliest cities in Canada. Meanwhile, more recent Statistics Canada data, released in February 2025 found more than 13 per cent of Canadians said they feel lonely “always or often,” while about 37 per cent said they “sometimes” feel lonely.
A natural and ‘harmless’ idea
The 31-year-old from Etobicoke explains the idea grew organically.
“One day, I was doing a walk, people passing by, and I would greet them or compliment them. On another day, I was passing by a TTC stop where people were waiting for the bus and I remembered, I have free will. So I just spoke up and I wished everyone a great weekend... people were confused at first, but then they smiled and laughed. And that moment really stuck with me, because it showed me how small little gestures can shift the whole mood,” Cho said.
Eventually he kept going, spreading kindness not just on the TTC but across the city.
“I continued spreading positivity everywhere I went — Tim Hortons, malls, coffee shops — just little positive messages for everyone," he told CTV News Toronto.
How others see his content
Eventually, the TTC became a focal point.
“The TTC is a place where millions of Torontonians commute every day… different backgrounds, occupations, life stories, all in one place… like Toronto in a nutshell, he explained.”
“What I’m doing is harmless… I’m just saying, ‘Have a nice day.’ I’m not pranking people. Most people see my effort and my courage and respond positively.”
Even TTC officials have taken notice.
“Everyone could use a little more joy in their life, including on their commute, and these posts certainly convey that sentiment,” TTC CEO Mandeep Lali said in a statement.
“We have spoken to the creator, and he assures us these posts are consensual between him and the subject, which is the responsible way to do this sort of thing. We thank him for brightening the day of customers he interacts with while on the TTC.”
Toronto’s ‘increase in loneliness’
Christina Gallo, a registered psychotherapist with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Toronto said reports of loneliness is something she sees regularly.
“We’re definitely seeing an increase in loneliness across the city, whether you’re a young adult, a newcomer or remote worker… I think winter often amplifies this, particularly in large urban cities.”
She says even small interactions can be meaningful.
“It requires a bit of vulnerability to go out there and like say, ‘Hi,’ to someone especially when there’s no commonality, Gallo said.
“When we have a community come together about common interest, we see it’s a little bit easier to connect with the people,” she said. “It feels good to do nice things, because we as human beings are actually wired for connection.”
She says Cho’s work is a reminder of something simple but powerful.
“It’s nice to see someone like Magnetic MJ come and remind each other of how important it is to actually connect, even if it’s just a brief moment of hey, thanks for holding that door, or thanks for doing what you’re doing… that appreciation, that bond, it warms our day.”
The TTC ‘I love you challenge’
For Cho, one of the most meaningful moments came during what he calls his “I Love You Challenge” on the TTC.
After telling passengers “I love you,” several women approached him as they were getting off the bus. One told him she had been having a difficult week and said his message truly helped. She asked if she could give him a hug. Another woman joined in.
He says they stood together on the sidewalk in a quiet, emotional moment. Cho said it made him realize how something so small could have such a profound impact.
He’s also received messages from viewers that he says have stayed with him.
One person told him they had been thinking about hurting themselves. After watching his videos for about 30 minutes, they changed their mind, he said.
“That message had a significant emotional impact,” Cho said, adding it made him realize his content was reaching people who were truly struggling.
Since the pandemic, Cho believes something fundamental has been lost.
“Since the pandemic, we’ve lost real human interaction. People try to do everything solo… I’m trying to bring back that sense of community.”
Quitting his job, going all in
After quitting his previous job in sales, he’s now built an online community called Social Reset, aimed at helping men rebuild social confidence.
“Now I’m fully invested in this. I’ve gone full out on this… using my savings. If I do need capital, I’ve signed up with Uber. I used to do food delivery as a supplement.”
He says even some TTC drivers now recognize him adding that the work has changed him for the better.
“Doing this has given me so much self-confidence. I can walk into any room and start conversations with anyone, anywhere,” he said. “My popularity shows we’re all craving connection. Sometimes, we just need to be the one who takes that step of courage.”
‘A wonderful initiative’: Chow
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow agrees.
“This is a wonderful initiative because it reminds us how powerful small acts of kindness can be. Kindness and caring are already part of who we are as Torontonians, and sometimes it just takes one person to bring that out in others,” she said in the statement.
“Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging, whether it is in their neighbourhood, on transit, or in a brief moment with a stranger. By choosing connection and encouragement, initiatives like this help make Toronto a more caring and safer city for Torontonians.”
For Cho, the mission is simple — and deeply personal.
“If everyone in the city talked to one stranger a week, we’d realize how much we have in common… It would create a ripple effect of positivity," he said.
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