Why Dating Apps need an Upgrade?

Love, it’s the first emotion everyone feels, starting with a parent’s love. It is only natural for us to want to feel that way all the time, wanting someone to comfort us during distress and being the reason for someone’s smile.

The current dating generation, particularly the late teens and early 20s who mostly comprising Gen-Z have a separate set of principles when it comes to dating. There are so many new terms that more dating apps have to be created for such relationships. ‘Situationship’, ‘Imaginationship’, ‘Delulu’, and the not so old concept ‘Friends with benefits’; These terms have taken over the dating world and are ruling the hearts of the present generation.

No one truly reveals what they really feel, the world has come to a point where people who genuinely express how they feel are at the bottom of everyone’s dating choice list. Most of it is influenced through hustle culture and putting ‘self’ first. The problem is that it has been misinterpreted in most cases and neither party wants to put effort, as it can come off as clingy.

Recent studies reveal that a significant number of people still value organic connections, with research showing that 42% of individuals believe online dating has made it easier to find a partner, implying that the remaining majority may still prefer traditional methods of meeting partners. Although, when the traditional methods don’t seem feasible, they turn to the modern matchmakers, the dating apps. These apps are designed to connect people from all walks of life, and promise romance and companionship. Some of the dating apps have the most intricate and beautiful algorithms. They are designed in such a way that they keep collecting information from user swipes to find a compatible partner for them. It is an iterative process, but users don’t have the patience to keep up with the process.

Most people do intend to delete the app after they’ve found someone, but no one really believes such a thing is possible. They use the app for just that, dating. Again, the problem with current users is that they don’t know what they want either. It is the biggest variable which changes the algorithm for that specific user. This in turn leads to them losing interest in the app to find dates and end up looking for something more casual. It might not have been their intention at the beginning, but at some point, they give up. The dating market has become as bad as the job market, reflecting a cycle of high hopes and frequent disappointments.

People need to know what they’re looking for before they start swiping, and there are ways to make it happen within the app; User feedback and Surveys for starters. The number of likes a person gets plays a dangerous game with their self-confidence which is why dating apps shouldn’t be the toxic ex people keep coming back to. It should be more of a friend, a wingman with great strategies. People want to use the app and see more than just a profile. There should be a wow factor which makes the person on the other end seem human, not just another swipe. Sure, it might not lead to an increase in dates, but it would encourage more people to get on the apps.

With the evolving social landscape, it has become clear that we have to upgrade our tools to foster these connections. There’s a demand from the dating apps for something more than just a simple matchmaking algorithm. The platforms need a significant upgrade to effectively serve the new wave of users. Need for integrating deeper insights into human psychology has increased, and it has become imperative that authenticity has to be prioritized over simplicity. The future of dating apps lies in their ability to adapt, innovate, and truly understand the needs of the next dating generation, ensuring that they remain relevant and effective in a world where the meaning of connection is constantly being rewritten.

(Reference: Hinge Culture- How We Do things)