The Most Cringeworthy Dating App Encounters This Week (July 26, 2023)

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Jul 26, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

It's easy to forget, but the idea that dating apps are the primary way to meet people is a very recent invention. Only a decade ago, being a regular Tinder user was a relative novelty.

This couldn't be further from the truth nowadays, as every other singleton has a specific complaint about their dating platform of choice. The concept of approaching an attractive stranger in person strikes the fear of God into many. While it is possible to have success on dating apps, it takes a lot of trial and error — and it detracts from the fact that there is no formula that truly guarantees love, just ways that it is socially acceptable to look for it.

That being said, many dating app users still manage to ignore the realm of social niceties by being generally rude and weird to anyone who crosses their path. It's only fair that there is an outlet to share this pain, so here are some examples of how not to act. It shouldn't be this difficult.