ARGUING YES
Maria Avgitidis
Fourth-Generation Matchmaker and CEO
at Agape Match
ARGUING NO
Melissa Hobley
Global Chief Marketing Officer of Tinder
MODERATOR
Journalist and Host of “Smart Girl Dumb Questions”
This week:
- New episode: Rethinking dating apps on Valentine’s Day weekend
- Your Sunday reading list
It’s our annual Valentine’s Day episode and this year we consider whether it’s time to break up with dating apps.
So, we took that question directly to the pros. Arguing the essential value of dating apps is Melissa Hobley, the Global CMO of Tinder, which has 75 million active users globally. Arguing there are better ways to make a match is Maria Avgitidis, a fourth-generation matchmaker and the CEO of Agape Match.
Ninety percent of Gen Z users are frustrated by the apps and are considering signing off. Some love experts agree and say that dating apps don’t allow for a genuine, valuable connection that you can otherwise find from meeting someone IRL. But others in the know say to hold out. Apps have changed the world of romance and many people we know have met the right person through an app, and every few seconds, a relationship is born from people who swiped online.
Recorded live at the Comedy Cellar’s Village Underground in New York City in front of a sold-out audience, the lively debate was moderated by journalist Nayeema Raza, host of the new podcast “Smart Girl Dumb Questions.”
For the latest on dueling approaches to modern love, listen to the debate now on Apple Podcasts, NPR, and YouTube, and join the community on our website. If you are happily partnered, share it with your single friends, who will be grateful for the guidance. As always, let us know what you think.
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Is It Time to Break Up with Dating Apps?
YES: Maria Avgitidis
“Dating has always been a struggle for many people, even before online dating apps. But the difference was that they were In their community, they were not on their couch looking for a mate. That is what’s happened, is we’re allowing people to just stay home, swipe, swipe, swipe. And, by the way, when it comes to attention, people swipe as fast as they swipe away a TikTok video.”
NO: Melissa Hobley
“I think people think, ‘Oh, the most successful people are, like, the most gorgeous, wittiest four guys on Tinder,’ and there’s an element of truth to that. But actually, dating apps are equalizers. They’re equalizers. If you’re introverted, if you’re neurodivergent, if you aren’t going to happy hours and bars because you don’t really feel comfortable there for a variety of reasons, or you’re sober, dating apps are a place for you to meet that person.”
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