In an increasingly digital age, dating has become predominantly an online pursuit. Most of the people I know have met their partners on a dating app; they’re becoming far more culturally relevant. There are obvious pros and cons to the increasing popularity of the apps, and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. So, let’s take a look at some of the most popular!
Tinder, the OG of dating apps, has been around for a while now. Basically everyone and their mom has downloaded it at least once. A lot of people download it simply to play around and boost their ego. It’s pretty well known that Tinder is generally more for hookups. I’ve noticed that this app can be even more superficial than other apps as you don’t really have to put much of a bio and people seem to mostly care about appearances. Tinder requires you to put at least one picture, your age, and your location. You are able to specify what age range and gender you are interested in “swiping” on.
Bumble is another popular dating app, which is fairly more dating-oriented than tinder. Women have to start the conversation first on this app, which can be a refreshing change. Like Tinder, you are only required to put one picture, but you have to include more information about yourself than you do on Tinder. There are options to answer questions that can allow for someone to get to know you better, which is pretty cool.
Hinge leans more towards forming meaningful relationships than a lot of other dating apps. You are required to put more information about yourself on Hinge and the conversations are generally more intimate. You are also required to put at least six pictures, unlike Bumble and Tinder. A unique aspect about Hinge is the ability to leave a personal comment on someone’s profile if you choose to “swipe” on them, even if you haven’t matched with them yet. Hinge, like Bumble, also has a variety of questions to choose from that you can personalize with your answer.
Dating apps seem to be the future of dating, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s important to approach them with a realistic view. They can be very superficial and it’s important to be safe when you use them. Some dating apps may work better for you than others, and it can be fun to test them out! They may not work for you and that’s fine, too. If nothing else, they can be a good confidence booster.