Are any dating apps worth it anymore

Recently, I was writing at the Marlton Hotel (TikTok, dont even think about blowing up my spot), when the miraculous happened: I was asked out by someone IRL. See, Ive worked from coffee shops and hotel lobbies for three years now and not once have I been approached by a man (not while sober, at least). As a dating writer, however, Ive long clung to the fantasy of meeting someone Before Sunrise-style. Theyd approach me, ask what Im writingreading at the time; next thing you know the bartenders yelling last call.

On a personal note, I can agree that the anatomy of dating apps have changed in the last four years. After I graduated college (via zoom in 2020), Hinge was like a life raft when it came to meeting someone new. While in-person interactions were tab00and we were less likely to be out in the world, doing something interestinga majority of singles picked up swiping as an after-work hobby. Fast-forward to 2024, however, and Im witnessing a universal fatigue of swiping to match and matching to date. Dating apps now carry the same undertone as ordering a mediocre poke bowl for dinner. Sure, it does the trick if youre tired and too lazy to cook (or spend money on actual sushi, for that matter). But its more about convenience than putting effort into feeling replete.