How Dating Apps Can Improve the Matchmaking Scene
Technological advancement has dramatically helped lives in so many ways. But if there's one significant feat that's worth mentioning, it's about making communications easier. This doesn't necessarily mean the technology made communication better in quality. But the ease of approaching someone online has become more accessible.
In line with easing communications, online dating has benefited from this advancement. Tinder alone has 75 million monthly active users worldwide. This only shows digitizing dating is a hit for many people. The app may be successful in enticing users, but the app itself is flawed. The same goes for other dating platforms on the web. It's undeniable that most of these apps have effects on mental healthand lapses withhow they represent dating in general.
So how can dating apps be better? What are the things they may need to tweak to improve the platform? Here are a few of those ideas.
Reducing the focus on appearance
A study was cited by American Psychological Association back in 2016, saying that men and women who use Tinder have lower levels of satisfaction with their physical appearance. Dating apps are an avenue for people who feel more comfortable getting to know others online. But most of these apps focus mainly on physical appearance. Just look at their interfaces. Whether it be Tinder or Bumble, their most considerable focus is always on the photos.
While it's true that people always look for physical attraction, it won't help if dating apps focus on this thing alone. One thing they can do is to reduce their emphasis on the physique. Leave the photos there but perhaps, make them less reiterated. Let the people click the images if they want to see them larger. This way, the focus would be diverted to whatever is written on the dating profile.
This can at least give the idea that users should read first what a person has to offer. Make them do it before seeing how the person looks.
Filtering intentions
People can be deceiving at times. This makes it hard for people to trust the ones they're dating. This is already a problem in the dating community. Maybe dating apps can do something about it. How about giving people an option to say what their real intentions are.
Some people want to pursue long-term relationships. Others want to meet someone but don't want to commit to a relationship. People have different intentions. If dating apps can filter intentions, they'll know whose profiles to show. This can save users a lot of time when it comes to meeting people.
Highlighting interests
Admit it. There are instances that you didn't bother to read people's profiles. But you automatically swiped right because they look good. There are times that we matched with someone, but our interests weren't aligned. This person may be cute, but they're into anime, and you don't like it.
How can you make that work? Maybe you want to find someone whose profession aligns with the course you're taking up; this can be someone who took up a Doctor in Business Administration program. That's why apps should work harder to fix their algorithm. Make it focus more on hobbies and interests. This way, it'll be easier for users to find someone they share mutual interests with.
Valuing conversations
You may have swiped right to someone cute, and you match. It made you the happiest until you felt the struggle to carry the conversation. It can get annoying when you're the only one talking. Worse is, the person you matched with can't add something worthy to the discussion.
These dating apps can integrate more features inside the app that can make conversations more engaging. They can suggest interesting topics to break the ice. Something that Bumble already does but better. They can put games inside the app. Or maybe, have a restaurant finder so that users can easily look for dating places where they can meet up.
Conversations are essential in dating. User experience in communicating through dating apps should be improved.
Strengthening security
While it's good to be able to meet people online, these people are still strangers. Criminals can still lurk in these dating apps and pretend to be regular people. Crimes involving dating apps aren't a myth.
The best way to prevent these occurrences is by strengthening security measures within these dating apps. It's good that most of these dating apps have now added a helpful feature. It's where people can verify ownership of a dating profile by taking a selfie. That can help put an end to catfishing.
But one thing they can add is an optional verification from the users a person went out with. Apps can be bold too by adding a rating system where users can rate how their date went. Users can choose to make it public or not. These are just some things dating apps should consider if they focus on their users' safety.
These dating apps can do a lot better to protect their users and promote a healthy dating life. If they're successful in doing so, they'd indeed become the masters of matchmaking and mental health advocates.