If you’re single and looking, it can feel like finding someone who wants a real relationship is a needle-in-a-haystack. But according to a recent study, three out of 10 Americans in committed relationships say they met their partners online.
Thankfully, there are a lot of dating apps out there — some better than others. To help you navigate the sea of options, we talked to some experts.
Tinder
While the idea of finding a love interest on an app may seem daunting, there are many benefits to using one. Dating apps can connect people with a variety of potential matches in a short amount of time, and they are becoming more popular than ever. This makes them an excellent choice for finding a serious partner or for casual hookups.
However, some users are concerned about their safety on online dating sites. There are a number of horror stories out there about sexual harassment and even murder, and many of the apps offer only a limited amount of protection against these issues. For this reason, it is important to choose the best app for your needs. This can be difficult, but a good antidote to rejection is having supportive friends.
Hinge
Unlike other dating apps, Hinge lets you display your intention for a relationship directly on your profile. It also allows you to filter your matches by their vocation, education level, and political views. This way, you can weed out potential matches who aren’t interested in a serious commitment.
The app requires you to have at least 60 Facebook friends in order to create an account. This is an attempt to discourage spammers and catfishers. However, this requirement isn’t always effective.
In addition to your basic personal information, you must also provide a list of your interests and preferences. This information is then used to find a potential match. In an effort to reduce ghosting, Hinge tags chats that haven’t been viewed in 14 days as “Hidden Chats.” This is designed to encourage your matches to initiate conversations.
Bumble
Bumble is an app designed to break gender stereotypes by encouraging women to initiate conversations with men. However, the app also attracts many narcissists and attention seekers. Women often complain of receiving unsolicited messages and cheesy pickup lines.
The app uses Facebook information to create a profile and match users based on their age, location, and gender preference. The user can then choose photos from their Facebook account and write a short bio to share with potential matches.
The user can then swipe right or left to approve a profile. If the profiles match, the users can begin chatting. Messages must be sent within 24 hours or the match expires. This is one way the app tries to prevent catfishing. Bumble has been credited with helping to set up long-term relationships and marriages.
OkCupid
OkCupid is a dating app that offers a different experience from the usual swiping apps. It offers a more in-depth approach to matchmaking with multiple-choice questions that cover things like your opinion on astrology and religion, and it also asks for verification of your identity (which includes validating your email address and phone number).
Other ways to improve your chances of finding love on OkCupid include taking the time to write a compelling profile and choosing interesting conversation starters that will pique your matches’ interest. It’s also important to keep your profile updated, especially during the covid-19 pandemic.
While there are some issues with OkCupid, such as dead profiles and catfishing, most people find the site helpful. However, it’s crucial to remember that not every online date will be successful, and you should take the time to reflect on your experiences with previous relationships before getting too invested in another one.
Match
Most online dating conversations on apps go nowhere. Some nascent chats get overwhelmed by the sheer number of romantic options on offer (it’s hard to tolerate some sub-par small talk when there are so many potential matchups), and longer conversations peter out over weeks of incessant back and forth that robs both parties of their best material.
Match is one of the oldest OG dating apps, but it’s constantly being updated with new features to keep it fresh. Rather than letting you swipe through endless profiles, Match asks questions about what you’re looking for in a partner and attempts to find you people who share your interests. They also offer Stir events, where you can meet up with your matches in real life to reduce anxiety about talking over text