From making platonic relationships or keeping things casual or seeing what an app is like out of curiosity, dating apps have made space to create love in our generation.
Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge have been all over the gram lately. Scrolling over Instagram, I watch reels on how people have been finding their true love on these apps which made me curious and excited to be on one.
A while ago, I made my account on Hinge. Added a lot of pretty pictures and prompts on the things I like, the kind of first date I’d like to go on, my love language or the key to my heart.
Every time somebody would see my profile they would either like my picture or comment something on my prompt like “oh my handwriting is bad, but I can write you some letters” or “what about playing arcade games and you coming over to my place later?”
I did talk to some guys, but it would mostly end up with them calling me over within two days of us talking.
One time I was talking to this guy and the conversation was going great for a day. The next thing I knew, he sent me his nude photos writing, “I hope this makes your morning better.”
What made him think that looking at his pictures would make me feel good? The next thing I did was block him.
Unsolicited nude photos are a problem that disproportionately affects women on dating apps, through texts and social media: A survey from YouGov done in 2023 found that more than half of all millennial women had received an explicit image electronically.
I did try getting off them and every time I didn’t open my app, I used to get a notification reading, “hi pretty girl” making me want to go back. Then it became a feeling I got hooked on.
I think using dating apps depend on what you’re looking for. If you want to just have fun, it’ll be for you. If you want to find love, I don’t think these apps work because most boys just want to hook up rather than take time to build up a good connection.
The world has changed. Instead of men investing in handwritten letters, guys are now investing in love-selling platforms.