Dating Apps Are Dying and Gen Z Said “Good Riddance”

The face we all make after the 47th “hey” message. Photo: Unsplash

Let me tell you about the last date I went on from Hinge. His profile said he was 6’2″ (he was not), a “foodie” (he ordered chicken tenders), and “looking for something real” (he disappeared after the first date). The whole interaction — from match to ghost — took about two weeks and left me feeling like I’d wasted precious hours of my life that I’ll never get back.

And apparently? I’m not the only one who feels this way.

According to Forbes, more than three-quarters of young people are just… done. Done with the endless swiping. Done with the carefully curated profiles. Done with conversations that go nowhere. Even the CEO of Match Group (the company that owns Tinder, Hinge, and like half the apps out there) admitted the apps feel “cringy” to Gen Z.

Let that sink in. The guy whose job depends on people using dating apps is calling them cringy.

Maya’s Take:

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The data is kind of damning. Newsweek reports that only 21% of Gen Z even use apps as their primary way of meeting people anymore. Meanwhile, 58% say they’re focused on meeting people in person.

Bumble has lost 90% of its value since going public in 2021 and just laid off 30% of its staff. Tinder downloads are down 14%. Match Group’s profits are dropping. The whole industry is in freefall.

And honestly? Good. I said what I said.

Dating apps were supposed to democratize romance, right? Make it easier for everyone to find love. Instead they turned dating into this weird gamified nightmare where you’re constantly judging and being judged, where the paradox of choice makes everyone think there’s something better one swipe away, and where basic human connection has been reduced to “looking at a photo and judging it.”

The Reality Check:

The Rise of “Intentional Dating”

So what’s replacing the apps? Something called “intentional dating” — which honestly sounds like something my therapist would suggest. It basically means putting actual effort into meeting people in real life through events, speed dating, matchmakers, or just… going outside and talking to humans.

Companies like Lox Club, Ambyr Club, and We Met IRL are popping up to host actual in-person singles events. Speed dating is making a comeback. People are joining clubs and taking classes specifically to meet potential partners. It’s very retro in a way that feels kind of refreshing?

“These events offer a refreshing alternative by creating environments where people can meet naturally and authentically. They align with our growing cultural emphasis on slowing down and being intentional in how we connect.”

That’s from relationship experts talking to InsideHook, and honestly they’re not wrong. There’s something fundamentally broken about trying to assess chemistry through a screen.

Maya’s Take:

But Wait, It’s Not All Bad

I’m not saying dating apps are pure evil or that everyone should delete them immediately. They’ve genuinely helped some people find love. One in ten partnered adults met on an app, and that number goes up to one in five for people under 30. Those are real relationships that might not have happened otherwise.

And for people in smaller towns, people with niche interests, or people who are LGBTQ+ in less accepting areas, apps can be genuinely useful tools for finding community and connection.

The apps themselves are trying to adapt too. Hinge is limiting how many conversations you can have at once (finally). Tinder added a double-date feature where you can swipe with friends. They’re trying to make things feel less transactional and more human.

Whether it’ll work? I honestly don’t know. The damage might already be done for a lot of people.

What I’m Doing Instead

I deleted Hinge last month. I know, I know — I’ve said I was going to do this approximately 47 times before. But this time feels different. This time I actually have a plan that isn’t just “hope the universe delivers a hot, emotionally available person to my door.”

I joined a running club (I hate running but I heard there are cute people there). I’ve been saying yes to more social invitations even when I’m tired. I went to an actual singles mixer which was awkward and weird and also… kind of fun? Like the pressure was different somehow. Lower stakes. Nobody was performing a curated version of themselves.

Biscuit is skeptical of all of this. He liked it better when I stayed home swiping on the couch next to him. But cats are notoriously bad at giving dating advice so I’m choosing to ignore his judgment.

If you’re feeling burnt out by the apps — and statistically speaking, most of you probably are — maybe give yourself permission to step away for a while. The apps will still be there if you want to go back. But you might find that real life has more to offer than we’ve been giving it credit for.

Or you might go on some truly terrible dates in person instead of terrible dates from apps. But at least you’ll have better stories.