As a result, in-person dating events are all the rage in the post-pandemic era. Everything from pickleball meetups to old-fashioned speed dating is all the rage (again). Newer dating apps like Thursday are also putting offline events at the core of their user experience (though mostly for straight people). Earlier this year, Thursday hosted its second meetup and ski trip. The growth of well-publicized friend-finding apps highlights the desire to actually live offline lives. Timeleft, for example, matches six strangers for a group dinner and is available for travelers. And last year, Bumble spun off Bumble For Friends, an app focused on platonic relationships that also offers a premium travel mode.
But certainly, the headlines about the demise of apps and how they are ruining travel are as old as the apps themselves. The Washington Post In 2018, I wrote that Grindr was “fading in popularity” after one controversy after another, but six years later, the app still pops up on my phone frequently. In other words, many of us are complaining about the app while checking for likes.
Still, it's not all bad
Several travellers spoke to for this column said being glued to their phones leads to excessive screen time. London resident Freddie D acknowledges that it can quickly lead to burnout: “That's definitely true, so I try to only use one device.” [app] “One at a time,” they say. But when they're traveling solo, they often log on to find a travel buddy. Once, in Norway, Freddie ended up chatting with a guy who'd never been to Bergen. “We ended up going there together and spending a day sightseeing around the city,” they say.
For solo travelers, dating apps are one of the most convenient ways to connect with people in a new destination, says Nova Scotia resident Brandon Y. “I use dating apps when I travel because they're a great way to meet new people: friends, lovers, and sex buddies,” he says. “I definitely get the argument that people are bored with dating apps, but the potential to meet interesting, genuine people far outweighs the desire to see all the museums and iconic landmarks.”
These platforms will likely continue to evolve in ways that frustrate users, many of whom are already caught up in the latest AI hype. Bumble's founder said earlier this year that users may one day have access to AI-powered dating bots that can screen potential partners, which is likely to be yet more fodder for daters already frustrated online and offline. But despite their many shortcomings, these apps cater to an eternal human desire for connection. And they're only expected to grow. The number of dating app users is expected to grow from 381 million in 2023 to 452 million by 2028, according to Statista data.
This suggests that in the next few years, millions of people will log into dating apps while traveling, even if they're sure to complain. Best case scenario, they'll meet a lovable, cheesy French guy on Tinder who will put his hand to their chest, listen to their rising pulse, and whisper, “Shhh, I just want to remember your heartbeat.” That's what I did once. But at least you'll have some stories to tell your friends or your alien twin over lunch.
5 strategies for using apps to travel
“Dating apps can be a time-waster, just like any addictive online activity,” says Elias Aboujaoudeh of Stanford University. If you want to manage your screen time and protect your mental health and physical safety, it helps to have a strategy. Here are some strategies I use to meet people on apps while traveling: