They’re not trying to get rich.
They’re just trying to find love in a world they say the apps ruined.
Dating morale is at an all-time low.
The apps have long sincefallen out of favor, but the real-world dating sceneis also a minefield.
Were at the end of what some believe is a failed experiment.
I was fed up with everything, says Emma Joelle Johnson, a 25-year-old from Vancouver.
Shewent viral on TikTokin February forFlirt With Emma, a new dating app with only one option: her.
Though he didnt meet anyone on it, he offered to hand it over to Johnson a week later.
You could upvote the flirts that you thought had better rizz to bump them up, Johnson explains.
Flirt With is part of a recent trend of more creative, informal attempts to meet online.
These DIY developers arent looking to launch the next Tinder or get rich.
They just want to find love in a world they say these apps ruined.
[Theyve] become almost transactional, says Johnson.
Meanwhile,meeting people offlinehas become more daunting.
The five-page document features pictures, her social media handle, and a Google Form to get in touch.
She received over 40 responses from all over the world.
She ended up going on one phone date but they ultimately werent compatible.
She still keeps the doc on hand to send to dating app matches to give them additional information.
Ive heard the best way to meet someone is through other people you already know, she says.
As it turns out, theres an app for that too if you know where to look.
I was like, you know what, I will make an app just for you.
It consists only of users from Christines web link, and other friends of friends.
Many already know each other from X, and the app just helps grease the wheels.
The app also allows users to vouch for other people, adding another layer of trust.
This has led to lots of hookups, Christine says, and at least four or five relationships.
These DIY attempts are exciting and novel, but they may struggle to get traction.
If you say what you think you want, you’ll probably find it, Krouse says.
The allure of these budding, DIY alternatives goes beyond their novelty and success rate.
Theyve also achieved something people were starting to think was impossible: making dating fun again.
This brings some lightness back into it.
At least if it doesn’t lead to my husband, it leads to something funny.
In her case, one response from a local stood out.
They met up that afternoon, and four months later, theyre still together.
*Requested to withhold their last name.
