Finding your perfect match on a dating app used to be so simple. Grab your phone and swipe until you stumble upon the right one. Nowadays, it seems almost like a stroke of luck to discover even a single genuine connection on an app. TikTok user Bianca (@infinitebs) made a video suggesting that apps like Hinge have failed their consumers by shifting from genuine matchmaking to now prioritizing profit.
“You can’t drive growth and retain your sterling commitment to set people up with life partners at the same time,” says the TikToker, who noticed how disappointing dating apps have become over the years. “The more people join an app, the more people just want to join it for hookups,” adding, “the worse the quality of people on the app gets, the more diluted the original mission of the app gets.”
Bianca also claimed in the video that the free version of Hinge is still unusable since the desirable features are locked behind a paywall, leaving a huge gap in the market where people can form authentic romantic relationships.
According to Eventbrite, there’s been a notable rise in speed dating and singles events hosted by younger people experiencing online dating fatigue and seeking face-to-face interactions. The self-service ticketing platform has seen over 1.5M searches for dating events on its site, signaling a strong desire for in-person connections.
Meeting people organically, whether through shared activities or budding social groups can create a more relaxed environment for people to foster natural connections and compatibility. Face-to-face interactions can also help build chemistry and gauge people’s personalities, which can be more difficult to scope out through a screen.
Like Bianca, other TikTok users are proactively encouraging people to ditch dating apps and (shocker) meet their potential partners in real life.
“Y’all are on these dating apps, when you need to be at these conferences…back in my day I used to meet the best guys at these conferences,” says one TikToker (@sliimkim).
Reports have shown that 45% of Gen Z and 35% of Millennials biggest challenges with online dating are finding someone who shares similar interests as them. Aside from conferences, many other TikTokers have suggested going to dance parties, abroad, galleries, volunteering, and everyone’s favorite — run clubs.
Funny enough, this was somewhat the norm pre-COVID and especially before smartphones became a huge thing. Many people are rediscovering the excitement of spontaneous meetings and the charm of traditional dating rituals. This generation is craving genuine human connection, which isn’t surprising when you realize a lot of people spent years being disconnected and disengaged from the outside world.
While dating apps will always have their place, especially for niche communities, there’s a clear trend towards valuing the authenticity and depth of connections created in person rather than the often convenient yet shallow nature of dating online.