Blog: Next New
Suggest a new type of "new media" that doesn't currently exist. Describe it.
Many generations now have been using various types of social media and dating apps from Friendster to Facebook to Tinder to now even Bumble. Dating apps are all fun and games, but I've noticed that the percentage of those that actually get paired up and matched between two parties is really low. In other words, though people are using these apps, they don't actually end up with dates or with relationships.
On the flip side, I've noticed that many people, including family and friends of mine end up in relationships because their other friends or family members happened to introduce them to someone else. So for example if my friend Josh had a friend named Stacey and I was into Stacey, Josh would match Stacey and I up and we'd now have a thing. I feel like that type of personal connection and intimacy has existed for generations (e.g. arraigned marriages, family-of-family marriages, etc) and will continue to prevail over dating apps, however this process is not streamlined nor digital.
That being said, if I were to suggest a "new media" of some sort, I'd introduce a friends-of-friends dating app that allows one intermediator to be able to match two other people up together. In addition the intermediator could be able to add a conversation caption to get the conversation started between two parties. For example, Krish is paired with Stacey by Josh, with a caption "Hey Krish, Stacey is a huge fan of the NY Knicks and just got season tickets. I remember how hyped you got last time you went to the Knicks game, so I think you two should def go together!". Once Krish and Stacey both accept Josh's invite to get intermingled, the conversation then starts. In addition, you have the ability to see who in your network is also getting intermingled with others and can then comment or like on their intermingled status.
Though this isn't as flashy as virtual reality or chatbots, I think this solution in the social media scene allows more directness and connectivity, something that used to be more successful in older dating habits and something that lacks in today's millennial, tech-compulsory environment.
FRIENDS
THROUGH
FRIENDS. |
This sounds like a good idea compared to the other dating apps, because they usually don't work.
ReplyDeleteHi Krish, I like this idea, but this app already exists. It's called "Coffee Meets Bagel". In fact, it was on Shark Tank previously (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPGerRlzcds). It basically uses your network in Facebook to introduce to you friends-of- friends. Everyday, the app will introduce to you one friend-of-a-friend, and you will have 24 hours decide if you're interested or pass up. If both parties indicates mutual interest, then you can start a conversation with each other. Not only this increases the chance of success because you both know a mutual friend, it also alleviates concerns that alot of women have on dating sites because of meeting complete strangers or someone might be stalking them. Overall, I think this is a great idea, but this technology already exists.
ReplyDeleteHi Krish,
ReplyDeleteI think that would be a brilliant idea! I completely agree with you that dating apps like Tinder have a very low chance of users finding long term relationships. In fact, most of my friends who use Tinder have the mindset of looking for hookup partners rather than dating partners. I feel like your new media would be a good idea because it would create an ecosystem over the mutual friend. In a sense, it would be like going to a house party and meeting your friend's friends rather than meeting a random stranger at a bar. Through this mutual friend, users would feel safer and more protected as well. Also, I like the idea of being able to ask my friend how the other person is like and what they like to do. It will incorporate a lot more traditional dating skill than just virtual skills.
Hey Krish- This sounds so fun! Haha. It takes out the creepiness of random strangers messaging people and having mutual friends converse with one another. Often times when people have just met, there wouldn't be anything much to talk about other than the typical "How was your day?", but I think with your idea, having some sort of common ground between mutual friends would take some of the awkwardness in the conversations. The only con I can potentially see coming out from this idea would be the potential "post-breakup awkwardness". Other than that, I think this idea is amusing and cool!
ReplyDelete