From Endless Swiping to “I’ll Arrange the Date for You”: How Dating Apps are Changing in 2025
Dating apps are undergoing a paradigm shift. For years, we got used to endless swiping, endless profiles, and conversations that rarely led anywhere. But users got tired. The so-called dating fatigue is giving way to a new approach: less options, more action. Instead of offering thousands of matches, apps now aim to directly set up dates, focusing on exclusivity, social reputation, and enhanced safety.
## Breeze: From match to date without the fuss
Created in the Netherlands, Breeze sends a daily selection of profiles. If there’s a match, the app checks schedules and automatically organizes the date at an associated bar. Rejecting dates results in freezing the account. The service is free, but payment is required for each confirmed encounter.
## Cerca: Friends as guarantors
Cerca operates through contacts. It requires sharing the phone book and only allows meetings with friends of friends. The idea is to avoid ghosting and provide more trust, as your reputation is at stake. For now, it’s only available in [location].
## Cuffed: Exclusivity and barriers to entry
In Cuffed, you can only have one match at a time. Entry requires an invitation or acceptance from the app, and subscription is mandatory, with prices ranging from $14.99 to $79.99. Its premise is clear: zero distractions, immediate commitment to the assigned person.
## The decline of the Tinder model
Tinder lost paying users in 2023 and Bumble slowed its growth in 2024. According to Forbes, 78% of users in the U.S. admit to feeling exhausted with dating apps. The new wave of applications leverages this weariness to differentiate themselves and propose a more direct, selective, and theoretically effective dating experience.
