Online Dating - Which Are The Best Apps?

[Hollowoman]

Morning! Another beautiful day and I've no one to spend it with. I'm considering joining a dating app, but I don't know which one is best for someone like me (I'm 50). Also I don't want my ex husband to know anything about this, is it possible to block other users? I've been single for 10 years and am really not sure how to find someone special, but I do feel lonely. Any tips?

Bumble is the best one. Might still take a while to get chatting to someone decent, just develop a thick skin, it's brutal and like a sweetie shop!

I think the media are starting to pick up on the decline of dating apps. Seen a few articles discussing it recently but not yet see them tie it into together with the decline of pubs/clubs and working from home arriving at the point today of an increase of single people.

I think you are making the correct decision with the apps. They really are a disaster today. Try to join some local hobby groups to meet new like minded people I say.

Hey. But most posters on this thread haven't had good experiences with OLD, so I'm kind of thinking against.

There’s a lot of horror stories here - I’d say that not all the men are that bad (but as a man, I sort of would say that wouldn’t I?), if you’re going to give it a try then:
Yes be cynical, be ready for rudeness and ghosting, catfish, dishonesty and DPs.
Be very very fussy, filter like mad and don’t emotionally invest until you’re really sure they’re who they say they are and that you want the same things. The one for you might
well be there but you will come across a fair few damaged, delusional or deceitful ones along the way so just be ready with a thick skin and sense of humour. It’s not a safe playground if you’re feeling low or emotionally fragile to start with!

What about OurTime or DateMyAge? I don't want to get involved with anyone much older or younger than me, that would be disasterous.

I think I'll leave it, you know. I really value the input from you all but I don't want to mess my life up, just to find someone love;y to share it with and it doesn't sound (on the whole) that I'll find that person via an app. Maybe I'll just hang around at the bus stop or something.

I paid for a month on Ourtime and I deleted my profile after 5 days - it was a horror show. I got pulled up on here for saying this previously but it’s the truth - I’ve never seen so many overweight pasty faced, flabby, slack jawed bad selfie all seemingly taken whilst wearing a hi viz vest in the gents toilets in a public park.

Honestly I’d rather be single forever than touch any of them with a ten foot pole wearing a hazmat suit.

Being slightly more positive - try the free versions of Bumble and Hinge which are probably the best of a pretty bad bunch. And if you’re on FB there’s a free dating section there too.

Maybe give the free apps a try for a couple of weeks but don’t take it too seriously

You are hilarious! I've decided to just leave it, it all sounds hideous. I do wonder though, how people meet other people these days.

But doesn't FB mean the men I am interacting with get to see my profile and photos and everything else? Also, I heard the free versions just collect data and don't allow actual communication between subscribers ?

No the FB dating is a separate section so they can’t see your profile.

The free versions of Bumble and Hinge you can message anyone you match with. It’s the ones like Match you can’t chat unless you pay .

Plus of course, I am super-worried about my ex husband finding my profile and telling our grown up kids. He would.

Oh okay. If I can block ex husband, I'd feel a bit less concerned.

Hi OP, I’m a bit younger than you and was on and off dating apps for years (friends all married/ small children so social outings reduced).

Honestly, yes, I was messaged by some absolute creeps (immediately ignored), but most of the dates I went on were normal men- just not for me!!! I didn’t go on loads of dates in comparison to others, but I was very very fussy with who I met in person. I had some terribly boring dates, a couple who were a little strange, but mostly nice evenings, it’s just they weren’t leading anywhere romantically.

Anyway, long story short, I met my current partner online. Been together a bit now, and so far I don’t think there’s any major issues 🤔 He was on there for similar reasons- long working hours and friends all settled meant getting out and meeting people was tricky.

Anyway, just to add a different perspective. Enjoy the sunshine 💐

@feelingalittlehorse that's nice to hear. Yes, I'll go for a little walk now. I'll try and make eye contact with men...

The apps are crap, best to get yourself out there on nights out (easy way to get chatting to men), hobbies, volunteering, male dominated interest events. I’ve been to biker/car/war/sci-fi days and there are no end of men happy to chat.

I disagree with this, it may work but it's unlikely. Often the people will be different ages (i.e. I am 50 so a 30 yo would not be of interest). Also, many will be in relationships, so the chances of meeting someone the right age and single is far less likely.

Apps wise they are ok. For men they are hard and many will swipe on any woman so they may get loads of swipes, whereas I got very few.

Hinge was decent quality, Bumble is where I met my GF, Tinder a waste of time.

Of course there are idiots on there, some of what I have heard just beggars belief but there will be men like me on there who simply want a long term relationship and have normal hobbies etc and not looking for a quick bunk up.

Good to hear a positive online dating story. I don't like the idea of pretending to be interested in a hobby just to get a man, but I have been thinking about giving myself a little me-time doing something I like in a new social group. New womenfriends would be lovely!

@Hollowoman - try the meet-up app. That's got local meet up groups and social events.

I’ve had two relationships from OLD and currently happy with the second one… a couple of years younger than me, well educated, no ex wife. Honestly, it’s not a horror show!

That's a good idea, I'll google it. x

To give a different perspective OP, I'm 55 and I had a great time on the apps. I met some really nice guys, and went on some fun dates.

I think I met the nicest blokes on Hinge and Tinder. There are quite a lot who are all the apps tbh.

I met my current partner on Tinder of all places, he's the exact same age as me and absolutely lovely.

I could cope with that.

I wasn't looking for anything serious actually, but when you meet someone who ticks all your boxes, then you have to investigate further.....

I did meet some odd blokes as well, don't get me wrong, but it just amused me rather than upsetting me. Very easy to block and move on. And yes, you can block any contacts before you launch yourself out there.

I met my dp on bumble and it’s a healthy respectful relationship. I would say you have to pass by some odd ones first. But if you try it, go in knowing what you want from day one. I would say it was an experience for me I doubt I would try again if I was single.