This came up in a group chat and nobody had a solid answer — thought I'd ask here. Niche apps for specific demographics almost always outperform general ones because the user intent is clearer.
Bumble's time limit on matching creates urgency that actually leads to more real conversations happening. Cougar and age-gap dating communities have become far more mainstream and accepted than they used to be.
Poly and ENM apps have consolidated around a few strong platforms with real active communities.
Safety things I keep in mind:
- A VPN helps with general browsing privacy but is not a complete anonymity solution.
- Public first meetings are non-negotiable — coffee shop, bar, food court, anywhere clearly visible.
- Use a Google Voice number instead of your real number when you're still getting to know someone.
