One night last month I decided I was done with dating in Vancouver. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t find a connection with anyone. As a last ditch effort, I scrolled through apps and came across a review about Happn, a free dating app that connects you to people within a three-block radius. Within 10 minutes of creating a profile, I was back in the game.
Happn lives up to its reputation by letting you skip the spammers you’d find elsewhere. It connects you to real people within the area that surrounds you, a game changer for locals who have felt isolated like me. Statistics from the My Health, My Community study support this claim: a survey of 3,841 people across the city found that locals feel more disconnected from their community than ever before.
Originally created in France, Happn gained 100,000 downloads within five weeks with its tagline of “find the people you’ve crossed paths with.” I’ve learned a lot from Happn during the last month, my main lesson being that just because I’m single doesn’t mean I have to feel alone. I’ve put together the top five ways that Happn turned my love life around, a must for any Vancouverite who’s tired of the city’s harsh dating politics.
It’s ultra localized
Let’s just say that I was tired of trekking out to different neighbourhoods to meet a stranger in what felt like an Olympic marathon. Within the last few days I’ve met people who hang out just a couple blocks away, meaning I can meet someone during my coffee break. It’s really cool to find people who enjoy the same location. Another plus: it can be used strategically based on your mood or your best outfit.
Meeting people you vibe with
Vancouver’s population is massive, even within the downtown core. Trying to pick a match in the massive dating pool often feels like a game of Russian Roulette, a predicament that lots of my friends relate to. It’s such a relief to meet people through Happn who enjoy the same things I do. When I’m exercising on the seawall I find people enjoying the same morning jog. Vancouver serves up tons of different lifestyles – I’m personally a Yaletown girl and I love meeting people who enjoy my hood just as much.
Dating is taken seriously
I’ve enjoyed meeting people on Happn because I already know that everyone I meet is in the same boat. There’s tons of reassurance in knowing that someone’s willing to move out of their comfort zone and meet you on the spot. To me, that’s a pretty good indication that others take dating just as seriously as I do.
I’m not wasting my time
I’ve talked to a lot of Vancouverites who are tired of sending constant messages online. The main complaint is that the online communication takes longer than the actual first date. Like a lot of other people, I’m busy running errands and doing my job, but Happn works with my schedule instead of making me go out of my way. You can have a dating life without making the usual sacrifices that online sites require.
No spam
Spamming is a huge problem with other dating options. Now that I use Happn, I’m not dealing with pesky website users who send me weird messages and spam. I’m giving this app thumbs up for helping me meet people I relate to and preventing days of endless scrolling. Plus, I finally have a love life worth remarking on.
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