Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 25 February 2020
Online daters looking for more than endless swiping

In this undated photo provided by Hinge is a page from the dating app.
Associated Press
By LOUISE DIXON tion. That, he said, "really
Associated Press helps people focus and get
LONDON (AP) — While ta- out on dates faster."
boos surrounding online The Inner Circle plans to
dating are long gone, add a "Let's Meet" button
some of today's app users to speed up the pathway
are sick of the endless swip- from app to real-life date.
ing and virtual pen-paling "If you both click it, you
that leads nowhere when can within the chat select
it comes to long-term re- days and venues that we
lationships, according to propose and then you can
industry leaders who are go on a date really quick-
responding with new ways ly. And I mean going out
to get users off their phones for a coffee. I mean, that's
and out meeting people in the first step. But for a lot of
the real world. people, it's quite a big step
David Vermeulen is one and we tried to make that
such leader. His Inner Cir- much more easy," Vermeu-
cle, launched in 2012, is len said.
more closely curating us- His app also plans to add
ers looking for meaningful an automated response
connections, and he's host- to anyone who just mes-
ing offline events in cities sages "Hi" as an introduc-
around the globe to help tion, which he said is often
make that happen among a dead-end to dating. This undated photo provided
by OkCupid shows a page
his more than 2 million "We're gonna say, OK, this is from the Dating app.
members. He said he saw not the best start for a con- Associated Press
a big shift in online dating versation. You have to do
attitudes toward the end of better," Vermeulen said. be set up. So if you thought
the decade as some peo- It's not just the newer gen- you should avoid talking This undated photo provide by Inner Circle shows a profile page
ple have become "Tinder eration of apps that are politics or religion on a first on the dating app. Associated Press
tired." adapting to changing date, it seems the tides are
"They really now are looking dating attitudes. OkCupid turning. through online dating. Hobley has also seen strides
for something more serious, is one of the original dat- Users can filter based on Hobley said one of the most in inclusiveness and support
something more genuine," ing sites, started by two their views from climate exciting developments as throughout LGBTQ com-
Vermeulen said. Harvard math graduates change to Brexit. digital dating moves into munities, creating a safe
Justin McLeod, who in 2004. Beginning life as a "In the U.S., we may ask the 2020s is in emerging space to express gender
launched Hinge in 2011, desktop website, it devel- you, how do you feel the markets including India, In- and sexuality preferences
shares Vermeulen's view oped into an app with the upcoming election? We donesia, Turkey, Thailand, and to meet potential part-
that dating apps should be advent of smartphones. To- may say, could you date Malaysia, Japan and South ners.
focused on getting people day, OkCupid boasts that someone that didn't vote?" Korea, where dating hasn't "An estimated 70 to 80 per-
offline. Hinge's tag line is it sets up 50,000 dates per said OkCupid's global chief always been so easy. cent of LGBTQ relationships
the app that's "designed to week. marketing officer, Melissa In India, for example, a started on a dating app,"
be deleted." The site enforces certain Hobley. new generation of women she said.
In 2016, Hinge intentionally restrictions to try and weed According to a Pew Re- are "going to university, For Hobley, the love doesn't
removed the swipe option out those not interested in search Center study last and they're working, and stop there. She said she
to encourage more inter- getting to that date. The year, 3 in 10 Americans they're saying arranged gets an average of 5 to 20
action. When they were company insists that users have used a dating site or marriage is not for me, and wedding emails and invites
told that people felt over- post more than one photo app and 12 percent have I want the ability to find my a week.
whelmed by their number and puts them through a married or have been in own person, and for my "I will crash your wedding,"
of choices, they created list of localized timely ques- a committed relationship marriage to be a choice she jokes, "but we also send
a "most compatible" func- tions before a profile can with someone they met that I make," she said. a gift."q