Dating app Hinge has unveiled a new feature that allows you to test your compatibility with your matches before going on an actual date.
Named ‘Video Prompts’, the feature allows matches to join a video call and offers a list of conversation starters that’ll help users get to know each other better. It can be scary to meet up with a stranger in real life right away, and virtual meetings lower the stakes and allow users to suss out their matches before taking the plunge.
While it may seem awkward to have a video date, 67% of users said they had found it “more natural than they thought it would be.” According to research by Hinge Labs, people found these video dates less awkward than first dates in person. Over half of users ended up enjoying their virtual dates so much they talked for over an hour.
As per Input, the ‘Video Prompts’ don’t include just questions, but also interactive prompts that may send you on a mini scavenger hunt in your own home. You might even find out before the first date if your match is a neat freak or a total slob. It’s also a great way to take note of any red flags before arranging to meet up in person.
The rise of virtual dating is unsurprisingly linked to COVID-19 lockdowns. Over a third of Hinge users had said they were open to being exclusive with someone they’ve only dated virtually. Even when lockdowns began to ease, the majority of users who tried virtual dates said they were likely to continue chatting through video even while meeting up in the real world. It seems like video dating is here to stay.
If you’re still nervous about going on a virtual date, you can also check out Hinge and Headspace’s pre-date meditations to calm your nerves.
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