Additional Coverage:
- I’m single and exhausted with dating apps, so I tried an alternative for meeting singles in person (businessinsider.com)
London Singles Ditch the Apps, Seek IRL Romance at In-Person Mixers
Tired of endless swiping and ghosting? Many London singles are ditching dating apps and trying a more old-fashioned approach to finding love: in-person mixers. One such event, Bored of Dating Apps (BODA), has seen a surge in popularity, reflecting a growing trend.
Dating app fatigue is real. A recent survey found that 80% of millennials feel emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted by dating apps. This exhaustion is impacting the dating app industry, with companies like Match Group and Bumble experiencing significant drops in share prices and resorting to workforce cuts.
BODA founder Jess Evans started her in-person mixers in 2022, and attendance at singles events has climbed 42% between 2022 and 2023. Other speed dating companies are also reporting increased interest.
One Londoner, Kasia Kovacs, recently attended a BODA event after growing weary of the dating app scene. Though initially intimidated by the prospect, she decided to try the mixer after hearing positive reviews from friends.
Kovacs described the event as feeling like a typical bar scene, with dimmed lights, loud music, and a crowd of over-30 singles. Attendees openly expressed their shared frustration with dating apps, seeking a more authentic way to connect.
While some attendees, like IT professional Steven, found the event a refreshing change of pace, others remained skeptical. Software developer Tom, for example, felt in-person mixers weren’t a guaranteed solution to dating woes.
Kovacs herself left without exchanging numbers, feeling the event was somewhat forced. However, the energetic atmosphere suggested others had a more positive experience. BODA reports multiple engagements and even a “BODA baby” resulting from their events.
While Kovacs remains unsure if she’ll abandon dating apps entirely, in-person mixers offer a viable alternative for singles seeking connections beyond the digital world.