I’ll admit that I’m decades out of the target demo for this Bloomberg story or it’s subject matter, but it still made my head go ‘boing’.
Dating Events Are on the Rise As Young People Abandon the Apps
The pandemic hit when Maxine Williams was 23 years old — a time that was supposed to usher in her prime dating years. Instead, she found herself at home, swiping on apps like Hinge and Bumble to no avail. When the world finally opened up again in 2022, Williams thought that meeting someone in real life would be easy. But the dating landscape her parents grew up with — and the people in it — had drastically changed.
“Because of social media and dating apps, our generation has been spoon-fed in a lot of ways when it comes to meeting people,” Williams said. “We’re realizing dating apps aren’t it, but there’s also a bit of shyness when it comes to, ‘OK, I deleted the app, but how do I even approach someone in person?’”
After struggling to find spaces in New York to meet other singles her age, Williams founded We Met IRL, a New York-based organization that facilitates both queer and non-queer dating events for people ages 25 to 35 in different cities. At $25 per ticket, We Met IRL meet-ups sell out in minutes, and in busy seasons, even seconds, Williams said.
The TLDR is that the youth are bailing on dating apps and would like to just go on dates, but they don’t know how. So, some tech guys came up with… an app for that?
Or at least a website.
There are heaps of them, apparently, including chess clubs dating meet ups and archery dating meet ups and, well, it all seems very much like, you know, old fashioned going out and finding someone to date.
Same is probably true of bars and nightclubs to a certain extent. And since they seem to be doing fine, I guess that "not working" has been the general outcome for a while.
Is the problem they're solving the simple fact that the yoof are poorly socialised for in person interactions? And the We Met IRL thingies are just opportunities to meet people IRL in a safe place where the initial hurdle of ensuring other people are open to dating has been cleared?
My only exposure to these apps is through some mates that divorced, and got on the apps. The stories were wild and these blokes were a tad scared of the ladies they hooked up with to be honest!! However I find myself surpised to be saying my eldest daughter met her partner on Tinder. Apparently you can set your profile to HookUp or Find a Partner. Anyways 6 or 7 years and 2 kids later.....
i had a laugh at this. I recently had a friend say that although being single in the dating app era was awesome for the self esteem (and i can only suspect trips to the doctor) he is now left hollow and empty because he didnt form a real long term lasting relationship connection.
I also love that tandem bike in the top left "i dont think i'll go on another date with her. She couldnt look me in the eye and kept looking over my shoulder and screaming out directions every now and again"
Both of the bike situations in the picture are great. Not sure how the rider of the one on the right is going to land.
I'm just disappointed that the "artist" didn't take up the offer/challenge of "archery dating". Unless I've missed it. Bit of a "where's Wally" picture.
Also enjoyed the guy in the foreground, waiting for another player for speed-chess (board only six rows deep) without any white pieces.
No shade on Ms Williams this does indeed read like an entrepreneurs who is re-inventing something that has been around for a while, slapping on a new paint job and saying pay me. Like you JB I am long past the target age for dating and I realise the world young people have to move in is so removed from the world of my youth than any learnings from my experience are of little value to them. I am terrified of the world I have help create for those generations.
Next thing you know they’ll be writing letters , reading maps, reading books , it’ll be mayhem . The horror the horror
Seems like the kids sussed out that wipe dating apps are designed to NOT work. If you get perfect match first time then the app lost a customer.
Same is probably true of bars and nightclubs to a certain extent. And since they seem to be doing fine, I guess that "not working" has been the general outcome for a while.
Double points for your final paragraph
Is the problem they're solving the simple fact that the yoof are poorly socialised for in person interactions? And the We Met IRL thingies are just opportunities to meet people IRL in a safe place where the initial hurdle of ensuring other people are open to dating has been cleared?
My only exposure to these apps is through some mates that divorced, and got on the apps. The stories were wild and these blokes were a tad scared of the ladies they hooked up with to be honest!! However I find myself surpised to be saying my eldest daughter met her partner on Tinder. Apparently you can set your profile to HookUp or Find a Partner. Anyways 6 or 7 years and 2 kids later.....
i had a laugh at this. I recently had a friend say that although being single in the dating app era was awesome for the self esteem (and i can only suspect trips to the doctor) he is now left hollow and empty because he didnt form a real long term lasting relationship connection.
I also love that tandem bike in the top left "i dont think i'll go on another date with her. She couldnt look me in the eye and kept looking over my shoulder and screaming out directions every now and again"
Both of the bike situations in the picture are great. Not sure how the rider of the one on the right is going to land.
I'm just disappointed that the "artist" didn't take up the offer/challenge of "archery dating". Unless I've missed it. Bit of a "where's Wally" picture.
Also enjoyed the guy in the foreground, waiting for another player for speed-chess (board only six rows deep) without any white pieces.
looks like some of the white pieces are over on another table with the two girls lol
No shade on Ms Williams this does indeed read like an entrepreneurs who is re-inventing something that has been around for a while, slapping on a new paint job and saying pay me. Like you JB I am long past the target age for dating and I realise the world young people have to move in is so removed from the world of my youth than any learnings from my experience are of little value to them. I am terrified of the world I have help create for those generations.