Are Dating Apps Worth It Or A Waste Of Time And Money?

Once upon a time, there were personal ads. That's right - people used to put ads in the paper looking for love. Some people still do. But as technology has evolved and there seems to be an app for everything, we now have dating apps.

Dating apps seem like a great way to find a date, a hook-up and even a long-term relationship. Just like an Amazon shopping cart, you can narrow your filters down to help find exactly what you're looking for, and then leave fate to take care of the rest.

But is finding love really as easy as that? We've all heard horror stories that show that dating apps aren't always a sure thing. Are dating apps worth it or are they a waste of time and money? Let's find out…

The Good

Let's start with what makes dating apps good. Dating apps are:

• Convenient
• Popular
• Free to use (in the case of Tinder and similar apps)
• Fun

For those who have tried dating apps before, you'll know that they can be thrilling. They're also an easy way to meet people. Not only do you not have to endure painful setups or hope you'll meet someone at a bar/in the park/at work/the gym, but you also get the chance to get to know them a bit before you meet up in person. It can save people a lot of time, which is great, as none of us are getting any younger.

The Bad

Despite the benefits of dating apps. There are also some downsides, such as:

• Anyone can set up a dating app profile.
• People can lie about who they are.
• Ghosting (where people suddenly cut off communication) is rife.
• Better dating apps come at a cost.
• Not everyone is upfront about their intentions and what they're looking for.

Dating apps can be great at first - look at all those people in your city looking for romance! But as you begin to wade through the possibilities, you'll soon discover that for every promising match, there are around fifty bad ones. They can also be exhausting to use. Just like your social media profiles or ever-growing WhatsApp groups, dating apps can be difficult to keep up with. In fact, you could spend so much time scrolling matches on your phone, that you might end up missing a real connection that's right in front of you.

The Ugly

If you thought the above was bad, then be prepared for it to get worse. The very worst of dating apps include:

• Profile pictures can be misleading. So be prepared to lower your expectations.
• You could spend a lot of time and money on dating apps, and not land so much as a single date.
• Many people have had some bad experiences on dating apps, which can be enough to put you off for life.

While dating apps can come with an ugly side, there are plenty of people who have enjoyed success stories from meeting online. So long as you're safe and keep your wits about you, there should be no reason why you can't navigate dating apps successfully. And if you decide it isn't for you, at least you've given it a try.

Making Dating Apps Work For You

So what are the secrets to making dating apps work for you? Take a look at the following tips and you could soon be the next dating app success story.

Try before you buy

Before you throw all of your money into expensive and exclusive dating apps, try some free versions first. Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are great apps to start with while you decide whether or not you want to pay to date.

Create a profile that stands out

Stand out with the right profile. From choosing the best (and most recent) photos to including some interesting insights into your life in your bio, it's important to create a profile that's honest and a great reflection of you, but also stands out to show how wonderful you are.

Stick to your preferences

When you set up your search preferences, you'll have to choose things such as your preferred age range or location. But even if you've been on the apps for a while, don't give into the temptation to have to switch up what you're looking for just to get some matches. Is a match really worth having if they live a two-hour drive away or are too young to be thinking of settling down? Sometimes, you just need to be patient instead of compromising your choices.

Learn how to handle disappointment

Dating apps are full of highs and lows, and it's important to manage your expectations. Try not to take rejection and disappointment personally - everything happens for a reason and if you're ghosted or rejected, pick yourself up and move on until you find what you're looking for.

Get to know people before you meet up

The good thing about dating apps is they give you a chance to get to know someone before you see them face to face. Spend time chatting and finding out more about the person to see if you're on the same page - think of it as a screening process. Consider making some video or phone calls to have some non-text-based conversations before you meet up.

Plan safe meet-ups

Keep meet-ups safe. Arrange to meet in busy places and always let someone know where you are and who you're with. It may seem like overkill, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Enjoy it

Finally - enjoy it! Dating apps can be a lot of fun and a fantastic way of meeting new people. Dive on in and explore the world of online dating. Your soulmate could be just a few clicks away!