Dating apps, initially designed to spark romance, are now brokering connections beyond that. As the dating game evolves, so do the players. Men are now using these platforms to find true friends – idealistic, real friends. Do some of them want friendships tied to romantic relationships? Yes maybe. But still, shifting your primary focus from constantly worrying about being ‘alone forever’ to actually looking for friends on dating apps is one of the most significant developments impacting men in the last decade. And who decided that the “Friend Zone” couldn’t be a wonderful place?
Ravi Mittal, Founder and CEO of QuackQuack, explains how men are exploring friendship beyond romance.
From “looking for love” to “looking for a friend who will meet me”– Dating apps were too one-dimensional – you were there to date; Ending. But why limit yourself to just love when you can also enjoy the platform for the next best thing – friendship? Men are putting out “looking for friends” and “open for friendship” bios to attract like minded women because sometimes, what you need is not love but a true friend who will hold your hand when May love leave you midway. Additionally, it is easier to find a relationship when there is no pressure of romantic intentions. With no added stress of impressing someone or winning them over with your words, men feel more comfortable coming out of their box and forming a real bond. It’s just a guy and his friend – two people chatting about everything under the sky, and the best part is there’s no need to read between the lines. Statistically speaking, men find it difficult.
There is a new appeal of “Just Friends”- Modern gentlemen have realized that friendship with women has its benefits. The conversation often goes beyond the surface level – it’s much more than life updates and sports talk. It’s a chance to see things from a new perspective, which will help them take a fresh look at life’s little challenges, like how to deal with a crush’s mixed signals.
Dating apps create a low-pressure environment for men to find these friendships. This is the perfect setup to expand their social circle and connect with women they might not otherwise meet, or even if they do, it’s more like a “Hey, want to be friends?” Start a conversation with. It may not work as smoothly as it does on these apps.
Sigmas is beating the stigma– Contrary to popular belief, some men also suffer from the stigma associated with using dating apps. But with the recent growth of friendship on dating apps, men too, like women, have found a way to work around it and focus on finding like-minded people and building meaningful relationships, Even if they remain ideals forever.
Friends First – Being friends with someone of the opposite sex can be misinterpreted in IRL, but that’s not the case with dating apps. Users have the option to be clear about their intentions from the beginning by mentioning a few simple words like “looking for friends” in their bio. Their profile becomes a safe space where friendship is, by default, the end goal. There’s no need to decipher difficult hints or pick up on the romantic tone. This clarity allows men to connect on a more authentic level.
Besides, making friends and doing something romantic organically is much more exciting and practical too. Daters have ample scope to evaluate the person and understand whether things can work in the long term before moving forward.
FWB? This is a thing of the past- The old friends with benefits are gone and now sitting on a shelf gathering dust. Men are looking for real human connection and the no-pressure fun and growth benefits that come with it.
Men have found a connection between love and friendship- Through dating apps, men have found that sometimes, there is not much difference between love and friendship. After all, it starts off as a relationship built on mutual respect and a similar outlook on life. Finding true friends online can feel a lot like dating, but without the emotional ups and downs.
