Despite hearing positive outcomes, I never used a dating app or been tempted to do so. A lot of my friends met their partners through it, and one of them even married their match.

Dating apps, of course, have a reputation for being a hotspot for hookups. On Reddit, I also read a number creepy and cringey online dating experiences which adds to my hesitation.

It didn’t help that I detest texting and prefer calling. I could talk for hours, and I’d even talk for both of us.

So, for the first time, I installed the app, and here’s what happened.

DISCLAIMER: Before you accuse me of cheating, I told my boyfriend everything prior to installing the app. I gave him access to the dating app I was using, and he co-authored some conversations.

7 Days, 156 Matches, and 0 Potential Boyfriends: My Experience as a Dating App Virgin

The Dating App I Tried

I installed Badoo. I was told it has a premium feature that you can use for a week as I have no intention of spending a single penny on a dating app.

I attempted to be as random and witty as possible when creating my bio because I didn’t want to reveal any personal information. That is of course, for safety and privacy reasons. I didn’t want to blow my cover should they decide to Google me.

Dating App: The First Impression

The app is easy to use. Once you sign up, simply fill up your profile bio, upload a few photos, and verify yourself by sending a live picture, and you’re ready to go. If the constant alerts irritate you, you may turn everything off altogether.

Dating App: I Swiped Right

Match No. 1

Meet Mr. Cringe, the very first person who I matched with triggered me on so many levels.

1. I dislike pet names, especially those given to me by complete strangers. Being addressed as “dear,” I should have unmatched him, right?
2. My marital status is already shown in my bio. People, I’m sure, read the bio before swiping right. Right?
3. Again with the pet names, this time “hon,” followed by wanting to see me by asking for pictures. Can we first talk and get to know one other before we ask for pictures? I actually uploaded 4 pictures and verified myself by sending a live photo.
4. I opted to end our conversation in the hopes that he would as well. He messaged a few more times, ranging from “R u still there, dear?” to something rude and hostile. –Blocked!

Dating App: Other Conversations

• Most of the folks I matched and chatted with either bored me to tears or sent NSFW pictures and texts that were instantly blocked & reported.
• One of them threatened to send my IP address to hackers when I rejected their propositions that’s highly inappropriate. He was a foreigner living in the Philippines. He was also rather arrogant, which did not sit well with me. I considered reporting them to the police and have them deported to their country. Blocked!
• A few were brave enough to use pick up lines. Insta-blocked!
• I had a local messaged me about selling a pair of sneakers.
• Another man wanted to hang out with his buddies but didn’t have enough money and was too embarrassed to borrow money from his family or friends, so he asked me instead. He didn’t get anything from me though. Blocked!
• I chatted with 13 foreigners who were searching for local women to accompany them while in the Philippines. If you know what I mean. One of them insisted on meeting with me that evening. Blocked!
• A man “loved bombed” me for three days then went silent on the fourth day, and until I uninstalled the app. Not that I fell for it. I even called him out for being tacky and cringe-worthy. Blocked!
• I received a marriage proposal. I politely declined.
• I received another marriage proposal & sponsorship to live with him in his country. Needless to say, I was confused as heck. I politely declined.

I decided to test the other features like the Encounters

Mr. I-Panicked: On the third day, I came across this person’s profile and swiped right in an instant. He has everything I’d drool over (except for his lack of long hair). He was the first and only person I liked first, and, surprise, he liked my profile as well. This is my blunt self being a complete idiot with lack of self-preservation.

Yes, I did say Hi to the camera. He is absolutely gorgeous.

But the excitement wore off, and I didn’t message him again. Mainly because we had nothing in common.

On my fourth day, I considered uninstalling the app but opted against it since I didn’t want my research to be ruined and waste my time all together. I dislike unfinished tasks and wasting my time.

Not Everyone On the Dating App Is Thirsty AF

Mr. Decisive: I admire someone who is decisive, knows exactly what he wants, and isn’t afraid to express it. A confident man is genuinely interested in getting to know you and asking you questions about yourself.

He is one of the few people that is easy to chat with. If you’re a woman searching for a partner, he is your ideal guy. He is smart, articulate, good looking, and courteous. To be honest, he’s a real catch. We talked for over an hour and bounced from one topic to another.

I wish him the best of luck in his search for a life partner.

I Even Made Some New Friends

I made friends with a handful out of the 156 individuals I was matched with, so I decided to disclose my purpose on the dating app, and I’m glad they agreed to stay in touch.

Wingman: He immediately appointed me as his wingman on our first chat, and we became instant best friends. Mostly because we had similar hobbies and interests, and we even exchanged Spotify playlist.

Archenemy: We literally spent most of our time debating. I like how most of his ideas were supported by evidence and references. I remembered one afternoon when I had just met a client and was on my way home. I had to sit in a cafe just to debate with him.

Pure Shores: One of the first things he said was that he was taking me to the beach. How awesome is that? I absolutely love the beach. He’s both intelligent and witty. It didn’t hurt that he’s super cute! Plus, I may even get free language lessons, so why not?

EDIT: Pure Shores is a jerk & a pathological lawyer/liar. He has a partner, but when I asked him about it, he denied having one.

Conclusion

My experience with the dating app has not been as terrible as I had anticipated. Sure, there are those who are just interested in your NSFW photos and would like to meet you for a night of passion. But there are a few that are pleasant to talk to and you can actually learn a lot from.

My grandfather once told me, if you want to grow that’s bigger than you and your abilities, then surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Which I believe I have accomplished. So I didn’t completely squander my time.

Would I reinstall the app? Probably not.

Would I recommend others to install dating apps? Why not? It’s up to you. Just be mindful with the information you’ll reveal and the photos/videos you’ll share.

Have you ever used a dating app? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments section below.