I Met My Boyfriend on Hinge, but I Think Dating Is Better Offline
I exclusively used dating apps to meet people in my early 20s.
My partner and I met on Hinge, even though we had plenty of opportunities to meet IRL.
I love our relationship, but I wonder what would have happened if we'd met organically.
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A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend, Scott, and I were out for dinner with two other couples. We got talking about how each of us met before realizing all of our stories are the same: It started on Hinge.
Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised by this. More than 366 million people used dating apps worldwide in 2022, according to data gathering organization Statista. And that number is set to increase to 440 million by 2027, the organization reports.
Even though Scott and I are happily in love, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if we had met in real life instead of online. After all, we had plenty of opportunities to cross paths in our early 20s; we lived in the same city, went to the same university, and even had some mutual acquaintances.
But at the time, I was so wrapped up with the online dating scene that I couldn't even fathom the notion of meeting someone in person.
I stayed in a digital bubble for most of my early adulthood
Before meeting Scott, I had never been in a serious relationship. And apart from a couple of exceptions, most of my dating experience was from Tinder and Hinge.
I became more outgoing after moving to London for work in 2019, but by the time Scott and I met at home in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2020, dating apps were the only safe option due to the pandemic.
I revamped my Hinge profile after social distancing restrictions eased in the UK. For those who haven't used the app, a Hinge profile is made up of a series of photos and prompts. As Insider previously reported, the prompts are usually a set list of ways to begin a sentence, which the user has to finish. For example, "My mantra is...," "Give me travel tips for...," and "I'll fall for you if..." When swiping on someone's profile, you can respond directly to the prompt they completed, or you can "like" what they wrote.
I can't remember what prompt I used, but I recall writing that Taylor Swift is "the greatest songwriter of our generation."
Scott "liked" my answer, to which I responded: "You're a Swiftie too?"
And the rest is history.
We are happier than ever, but I wish we had met in a more authentic way
More than two-and-a-half years later, Scott and I live together and are co-parents to a cat named Reggie. And we both still love Taylor Swift!
When I look back at the beginning of our relationship, I recall awkward video calls, date nights at home, and conversations about our vastly different experiences at university.
Mikhaila, Scott, and Reggie pictured earlier this year. Mikhaila Friel/Insider
Scott was outgoing, and he told me stories of the many friends he met at the pub that was located on campus. I hadn't even known the pub existed, despite attending the university for four years.
Looking back, I wonder if Scott and I unknowingly crossed paths during our studies. And I can't help but think I could have met him sooner — and IRL — if I had been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and be more social when I was a student.
I also would have reaped the benefits that comes with being a more social person, as I have done in the years since meeting Scott. I have had unforgettable experiences, met some amazing people, and grown as a person.
That's not to say that I condemn dating apps. If you met your person online like I did, I'm so happy for you.
But don't forget to look up from your screen once in a while — you might just discover someone that had been there all along.
Source: Insider
