The Corona virus Pandemic has had a huge impact on the world over the past year. People now work from home if they can, cities are like ghost towns and life is generally very different. In these tough times however, dating applications have continued to flourish as people continue to try and find romance in whatever way they can.
The global pandemic has resulted in the disappearance of what we might call ‘normal’ socialising opportunities such as nightclubs and bars and so people have had to look elsewhere in order to find companionship. After all, this is a very lonely time for some people who may feel isolated, and so the five applications I am going to list below have provided a gateway to new friends and partners for many people over the past year.
Dating applications have adapted to new circumstances and many have implicated new features such as video chat to help people connect better than simply texting as lockdowns are implemented across the world
Whatever your personal circumstances, there is definitely an application out there for you, if not to find love, then to at least make some new friends and bring some normality back into your life.
Let’s bring you through some of my favourites!
Tinder
Credit: techcrunch.com
A staple within the dating application community, Tinder has quickly become the dominant competitor within the field amassing over 50 million users since its initial release back in September 2012.
The app allows you to create a personal bio with your favourite pictures helping to promote your personal brand. Through their swipe right, swipe left format, you can pick and choose the individuals that match your specific tastes and preferences. The application provides the opportunity to upgrade your account to Premium & Gold features which further enhance your experience with features such as unlimited likes the ability to rewind in case you find that you want to give someone a second chance!
With over 30 billion matches to date as well as 26 million matches per day, there is n doubt that Tinder is currently the most popular dating application.
Bumble
Credit: bumble.com
Bumble has quickly made a name for itself within the dating space since their release in December 2014 with 22 million users to date.
The application prides itself on employing unprecedented standards for respectful behaviour which they claim allows users to build meaningful relationships. The application offers unique features such as Bumble BFF to find new friends, Bumble Bizz for networking and finding mentors and the ability to video chat other users.
On Bumble, women have to make the first move in the first 24 hours otherwise the match expires. In same-sex matches, either person has 24 hours to communicate.
The applications unique features as well commitment to making the user experience as respectful as possible as allowed the application to create a strong brand which I’m sure will only get better as new user signups surge during the global pandemic.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Credit: coffeemeetsbagel.com
Coffee meets bagel has labelled itself as the anti-swiping dating application and they must be doing something right as they have created a community of 10 million users since their release in April 2012.
The application works by providing female users with male users that have shown an interest in them, they then have the option of reciprocating the interest. Users then have a 7-day window in which to chat and complete a personalised ice breaker provided by the application.
In-depth profiles, smart algorithms and an impressive 93 million matches has propelled the application to the forefront of the online dating space.
Plenty of Fish
Credit: theappanalyst.com
What Plenty of Fish lacks in features, they make up for the mass number of followers that they have collected since its release its release in 2003. The application has created a community of 70 million users allowing it to surpass Tinder as the highest used application today.
17 million conversations are began every day on the app through their free messaging feature making it 2.7x more likely than other dating applications to enter a new conversation within the first 24 hours of usage.
The straight to the point nature of the application as well the vast amount of users makes it a highly popular option for all individuals looking to start online dating.
OkCupid
Credit: mashable.com
OkCupid has steadily become one of the main players in the dating application space through a vast user base, constantly improved features to improve the user experience and 195 million matches every year.
OkCupid offers unique features including ‘flavours’ which allows users to view flavours of potential matches such as beard lovers and foody. The application also provides personality quizzes which allow users to gain a deeper understanding into the individual.
The application also places emphasis on their commitment to helping any individual find a match no matter their gender or sexual orientation!
The affordable nature of OkCupid as well as its easy to use platform has made it a prominent force in the online dating space.
These applications show us that there is still a chance for love even in this challenging climate!