UPDATE: The Way People Date in Michigan Could Change Very Soon
UPDATE 4/30/24: In an example of changing trends in dating, Bumble announced today that it will be adding a new feature that will allow men to message women first. This is a major departure from what has been the dating app's flagship feature meant to empower women.
The new feature is called "opening moves". It will allow women to set a prompt that will let men reach out first by responding to the prompt, similar to Hinge's prompt option. It is the first big change to the app since Bumble's founder, Whitney Wolfe, left the company earlier this year.
ORIGINAL:
Ever since dating apps took the world by storm, apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have become household names for those looking to find The One. However, trends are changing, and people are looking to make new relationships offline.
Breaking Up With Dating Apps
I'm going to list out some experiences people who use dating apps tend to have:
- Anyone who has used a dating app knows the thrill you get when you match with someone, the sense of excitement that someone has also expressed interest in you.
- You message someone and you're met with silence.
- You have what you think is a good conversation with someone, and they just ghost you.
- You start talking with someone and they're only interested in hooking up (nothing wrong with this, but it isn't what you're looking for).
- You meet someone and go on a date, but afterward, you get ghosted.
- You enter a loving and committed relationship. (rare)
Most of these outcomes have a negative result, and repeated negative results can cause people to get fed up with dating apps when they don't feel like they're getting anything out of it. It also doesn't help that these apps are feeding off people not finding success with their dates, with the apps designed to keep users on the app as long as possible so companies can profit.
What People Want Now
Have you heard of the phrase "meet-cute"? If you haven't, there is still a good chance you might have a meet-cute of your own. A "meet-cute" is "a cute, charming, or amusing first encounter between romantic partners", like in a rom-com movie. A quirky or special way of meeting someone. People are tired of meeting each other through swiping on an app. People want more generic and genuine stories about how they met, with more natural connections.
This change in dating trends is affecting the dating major dating apps. Despite Bumble posting over a billion dollars in revenue last quarter, the popular app recently laid off 350 employees and had a major leadership restructuring. The bottom line here is that while these apps are making money, they're not holding user's attention like it used to. It has gotten to the point that Bumble, whose signature feature is that women message first, is considering dropping this gimmick.
Users want more genuine experiences, and whether that means a dating app shake up and they disappear entirely, how people date in Michigan is on the cusp of a major change.
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