New year, new me—or, let’s be honest, same me—but this time, I’m actually trying to fix my dating life. Last year was a hot mess: dead-end matches, ghosting galore, and way too many “wyd?” texts that went absolutely nowhere.
But 2025 is the year we level up, leave the bad dating vibes behind, and swipe with purpose. Ah, dating apps. The place where love stories begin—or crash and burn in a fiery mess of bad openers and ghosted conversations. Whether you’re swiping on Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, or another app, we all know the struggle: trying to vibe with a stranger using only a few pictures and some snappy captions.
Sometimes, it feels less like flirting and more like pulling teeth—or squeezing blood from a rock. But fear not! With a little effort (and some guidance), you can turn awkward convos into potential meet-cutes IRL.
Some people are just legitimately bad at texting—maybe they’re slow to reply, ask boring questions (and don’t appear to have even read your profile) or don’t bother asking anything back. But here’s the catch: sometimes bad texters turn out to be great in person. So, how do you navigate those awkward early stages to figure out who’s worth meeting IRL and who’s just wasting your time? Fear not—here’s your ultimate 2025 guide to turning dating apps from a swipe-and-sulk ordeal into a fun (and maybe even successful) adventure.
DO’s
1. Put some effort into your profile
This is your first impression—don’t half-ass it. Think of your profile as a personal trailer for the rom-com of your life. Here’s how to make it pop:
- Pick engaging prompts: Choose ones that show off your personality and make it easy for the other person to have an interesting conversational hook to jump onto. Bonus points if they include a question that invites conversation (e.g., “A random fact about me: I once ate 15 tacos in one sitting. What’s your record?”).
- Update your photos: Include a mix of shots—close-ups, full-body pics, and action shots of you doing something you love, a group shot (with friends/family). Think less “model” and more “fun, approachable human.” If you don’t have any, use the timer function on your phone/camera to take some new ones or get a friend to help you.
2. Verify your profile
Nobody has time for catfish drama. There are enough people on the apps where they:
- Share really old photos of themselves that looks nothing like they do currently,
- Steal good looking, people’s public Instagram photos and pose as them on apps. (Google reverse image search is pretty dang good these days and your lies will be unravelled within 5 seconds, why bother catfishing?)
3. Reply quickly
We’re all busy, but nobody wants to feel like an afterthought. If you’re interested, don’t play games. Timely replies show respect—and keep the convo alive.
4. Ask engaging questions
Skip the “How’s your day?” snooze-fest. Instead, ask questions based on something they’ve shared on their profile that are playful or intriguing:
- “What’s your go-to karaoke song, and can you actually sing it?”
- “You’re stranded on an island. Which three snacks are you bringing?”
4. Try to move from texting to real life meet up quickly
If the vibe is good, don’t let the convo drag for weeks. Suggest a casual hangout sooner rather than later. A coffee, a park stroll, or checking out a new food spot are low-pressure options. Not quite ready to meet up? Try a quick phone call or video chat vibe check first. It’s a great way to see if the chemistry translates beyond texts without committing to an in-person meetup.
5. Share a little weirdness
Your quirks make you memorable. Love collecting funky socks? Big into furniture flipping? Kombucha brewing? Mention it! Being unapologetically yourself weeds out the wrong people and attracts the right ones.
6. Show genuine interest
Mirror their energy, ask follow-ups, and show that you’re invested in getting to know them. No one likes one-sided convos where it feels like an interrogation. If they share a fun detail about their day or an interest they love, lean into it. Mention how it connects to something you’ve experienced or ask a thoughtful question that keeps the convo flowing.
Here’s the thing: micro-romance is alive and well, and people are tired of low-effort interactions. In a world full of lazy “wyd?” texts, putting in just a little thought can feel like a grand gesture. It’s not about trying too hard—it’s about making them feel seen and appreciated. When you show genuine interest, you set yourself apart as someone who’s worth engaging with. Remember, effort is attractive, and in 2025, the bar might be low, but you’re here to clear it with ease.
7. Be honest about what you want
Looking for something serious? Cool. Just vibing and seeing where it goes? Also cool. While dating is fun, the point of it (for most people) is to find someone who you want to be with for the long haul. Bumble says that nearly 3 in 4 (72 percent) singles globally want to find a long-term partner in 2025. People aren’t waiting to ask personal questions or traditionally taboo topics like climate change, politics, work ambitions etc. to get a sense of who someone is and where they see their life moving towards. Be upfront, so you attract people on the same wavelength.
DON’Ts
1. Don’t list all your red flags
Nobody’s here for the negativity. Don’t start off with negativity like: No high maintenance people, no time wasters, no stage 5 clingers, no crazies, no psychos, no workaholics etc – this just screams baggage. Focus on what you do want, not what you’re avoiding.
In between all the catfishers, scammers etc on the apps, there’s already enough red flag people on these apps. Make the app experience less negative and toxic and try and exude positivity.
2. Don’t ask generic questions
No one cares about your weekend, what work you do, or how your day was. Ask bland, generic questions, get bland, generic answers. Step up your game, or risk a “seen” and no reply.
3. Please no half naked gym selfies or bed selfies or too many selfies
We get it. You work out, but if your whole profile screams “look at my gains,” it’s giving self-absorbed energy. If all your pictures are just selfies, it looks like you have no friends.
4. Don’t use old or heavily filtered pics
Also, don’t use old photos where you look wildly different to how you look today. You might fool the other person initially, but when/if you meet in person, the jig is up! Do you think they’re not going to notice if you use photos from 10 years ago, where you had a full head of hair and now you’ve got a receding hairline and you’ve put on a few kgs?
If you’re uncomfortable with how you look currently, swing into action to try and improve it. Otherwise, accurately portray what you look like now, so that you’re not wasting your time and the other person’s too.
5. Don’t rely on the other person “to just ask”
If your profile is very sparse or vague, don’t expect the other person to bend over backwards to spark and conversation and “to just ask.” You’re not Beyoncé; people won’t DM you just for existing. You are not that interesting to deserve an interview style conversation where the conversation is one-sided, while you just talk about yourself the entire time and don’t show any interest in getting to know the other person.
6. Don’t be afraid to niche down
Love D&D? Obsessed with Chappell Roan? Crazy about indoor rock climbing? Not everyone will love the same things as you. You’re not aiming to appeal to everyone. You’re not pizza and it’s OK. Being specific helps you find your people. Being specific about your interests isn’t just about self-expression; it’s a filter that helps you attract the right people while gently weeding out those who aren’t your match. It’s about finding the people who look at your profile and think, This person is my kind of weird.
When you lean into your niche, you create opportunities for meaningful conversations that go beyond the typical small talk. Love quoting Clueless or DJing at home? Share it! Your unique quirks make you memorable in a sea of generic profiles. Plus, when you match with someone who gets it, you’ll know the connection has a stronger foundation than just, “So, what do you do for work?” Be authentic, be bold, and watch how the right people gravitate toward you.
The key to winning on dating apps is simple: be authentic, be engaging, and don’t be a drag. With a profile that shows your personality and conversations that don’t make people want to throw their phone away, you’re one step closer to meeting someone worth swiping right on. Now go forth and conquer the dating app jungle—your future meet-cute awaits!
