Most of Hinge UK users, about 69 per cent, also say they’ll continue with virtual dates after the pandemic
The use of dating apps, in general, has surged as people are seeking connections amid isolation. Things changed fast as dating became both weird, awkward and cumbersome not just because they were masked, but due to being socially distanced and outdoors.
Tinder reported that 2020 was its busiest year yet, while Hinge tripled its revenue from 2019 to 2020. Tinder announced new tools that will allow people to add videos to their profile and also chat with others even before matching with them. Research shows video chats are here to stay.
Almost half of Tinder users, largely driven by Gen Z users in their late teens and early 20s, had a video chat with a match during the pandemic, with 40 per cent of them intending to continue them post-pandemic. Most of Hinge UK users, 69 per cent, also say they’ll continue with virtual dates after the pandemic.
In India, students of IIT Ropar and Chandigarh University have coded a dating app that caters specifically to college students, which has so far recorded two thousand downloads across India
Tinder, alongside other popular apps including Hinge, OkCupid and Bumble, has in Britain and the U.S. partnered with the government to add a badge to profiles indicating that users have been vaccinated. Grindr, an app popular with gay men looking for more casual encounters, in pre-pandemic times, was dumped for Tinder when coronavirus restrictions prevented people from meeting others in London.
Many expect some of their pandemic dating behaviours to carry into the post-pandemic world.
Meanwhile, in India, students of IIT Ropar and Chandigarh University have coded a dating app that caters specifically to college students, which has so far recorded two thousand downloads across India.
“We have developed an app College Meets,” says Bholesh Mittal, co-founder of the app and a student of B Tech from IIT Ropar, adding, “Due to the pandemic, college students aren’t able to meet each other and hence we saw the need for a dating app. We, therefore, came up with the idea of coding College Meets, which is exclusive for college kids. And since its launch in January this year, until now we have already got 2,000 downloads across the country.”
Students in Delhi University, Amity University, Chandigarh University, IITs, NITs, and many more are using this app.
“A major problem in dating online is fraud and fake accounts. To overcome this flaw, our app verifies users with their college identity cards that bring in utmost security. The app then primarily shows matches within the chosen college or university, unlike other dating apps that show scattered matches in their area,” informs Mittal.
For freshers from colleges, this app is a saviour of sorts.
“The app helps college students make new friends and also helps those who want to date someone in their college but are shy or hesitant to approach,” says Mittal.