I first created an OKCupid account in 2011, and for nearly five years, online dating and I had a tumultuous, on-and-off relationship. Then, in , I decided I would take a break from online dating-and that unlike my previous “breaks,” this one would last for more than a few weeks. It’s actually ended up lasting a year because after seven months, I met someone-and it was IRL.
The biggest reason I had for deleting my dating apps was just an insufficient return on investment. Whether because we didn’t have much in common or we weren’t willing to put in much effort, my conversations rarely left the texting stage. When they did, second dates were rare and thirds were almost unheard of. I started feeling exhausted at just the thought of another date filled with small talk and attempts to put my best foot forward.
But being a quitter paid off. And while it might not be the right choice for you, here are a few things I learned from this “break” that became a full-on renouncement of dating apps:
If you had told me this a year ago, I probably would’ve responded, “Yeah, anything is possible-but it sure ain’t likely.” In a world where two potential matches could be in the same bar and not notice each other because they’re both swiping around on Tinder, it feels like online is the only place to meet someone. But people had relationships before dating apps existed and-surprise!-many still do without them. Read More
