Millions of people look for love online, but it can be hard to know where to start. But how do we navigate the glut of options available to help us find love? With about 25 million people in the US alone thought to have regularly used dating apps this year, the sea is stocked with fish aplenty β so should we Bumble, Tinder, Happn or perhaps Grindr our way to success? What is it?
The most popular and enduring of the first wave of dating apps, Tinder was founded in as a way to help US students meet each other ; in other words, a social network for friendship as well as dating. How do I use it? All you need to do is upload some ideally well-lit photos.
Who will I meet? Tinder is where you are most likely to find anyone and everyone in your local area: the person you see on the train platform each morning who you swear wears a wedding ring; the primary-school friend you lost touch with 15 years ago; your boss; or maybe your ex. You have to delete your profile as well as the app to be fully off-grid. Use it if you are looking for β¦ a late-night rendezvous.
Billed as the female-friendly version of Tinder, Bumble is very similar except for the fact that only women can start the conversation. When it comes to same-sex matches, either person can make the first move. Again, users swipe left or right depending on their preference and the requirements for signing up are minimal: images, your name and your age. Word of warning Despite taking the lofty position of promising a platform for relationships rather than encounters, Bumble still exists for the same purpose, no matter what your matches may tell you.
Use it if you are looking for β¦ flirtatious texting. Here is where things get a little strange. In theory, you or someone you know should be friends with your match. There is no swiping β instead, users have to answer an array of questions that are posted on their profile page, along with their again ideally well-lit images. McLeod and his wife met in college, broke up and spent eight years apart before Copaken encouraged him to take action before it was too late.
