Article 34

So this week, I have been particularly frustrated with the lack of effort shown by some of the men I have recently matched with via two popular dating apps.
For those who don’t know, when you swipe right and “like” someone and they do the same, it is considered a “match”. You are both notified, and options to message one another privately will open. My question is – if you “like” me…and we match…why in the world would you never communicate with me again?!
Well, to my surprise, I found out that a lot of these so called “men” with profiles are actually “bots”! There is no REAL person to match with! So…what are “bots”?
“Bots” are an automated software program designed to mimic human conversation often used by scammers creating fake profiles to lure users into interactions. Essentially, a robotic, non-real person pretending to be a potential romantic partner on the dating app.
Spotting “bots” isn’t always easy. Sometimes, they will have very polished photos, vague bios and look “too good to be true”. They respond quickly (at all hours), may use repetitive language and will ghost you out of nowhere. A few tips on how to catch a bot; use humour/sarcasm, type a string of random letters that confuses them or make unusual remarks they can’t decode. Never click on a link they sent you! Once you ‘spot a bot’ – report them to the app to help build a safer online community.
My advice today? Whether it’s a bot ghosting you, or a potential partner…don’t take it personally – either way, you are better off.