A dating app in partnership with local venues that act as chaperones during first dates
Image credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels; further edits by me
Aashi AgarwalJan 08, 2022
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A dating app that partners with venues (restaurants, cafes, cinemas) that assume the role of chaperone and keep people safe while on the first date in their establishment.
Why?
A win-win situation for the dating Apps and the dating App users I believe.
The dating app not only earns a commission for each "first date" booking made through their platform, but they also attract a larger population of women to their platforms for being more attentive to their safety concerns.
Users who are apprehensive of meeting people in real life because of safety concerns may benefit from restricting their first dates to these dating app-approved locations that are better equipped to handle safety-related emergencies.
Although this might not guarantee to protect people from traumatic experiences on their first dates, it does provide better odds of a safer environment for first dates.
How it works
Dating Apps can increase their profitability while ensuring user safety by going one step ahead and helping matched couples plan and finalize their first date on the app itself by tying up with various food and entertainment service providers like movie halls, comedy clubs, restaurants, pubs, and cafes. (This might as well already exist. I am not well aware of the additional features offered by dating apps nowadays).
The idea is for dating Apps to roll out a safety training program for each restaurant, cafe, movie hall, etc. they partner up with. The management staff and waiters should be trained to identify distress signals by women on their first dates. For example: like in this article, if a girl orders a particular item off the menu (for e.g. “angel shot”) the waiter is signaled that the date is not going well and the girl feels unsafe. He/She can then escalate the matter and can call the cops, or simply escort the girl to safety.
This is an excellent idea. I think another element that could be added to such a dating app could be check-ins during dates organized on the app.
If people agree to meet in real life they schedule a date on the app, during the specified time both people could receive a prompt from the app asking if they are still having a good time, or they could simply have access to a "panic button" on the app. If they do not feel comfortable, the staff at the partnered restaurants could be alerted to make sure they leave alone and safe.
Such a feature would probably need to specify whether someone is indicating that they feel threatened or whether they simply aren't enjoying the date and would like it to end. Indicating the extreme would alert the staff to intervene while simply wanting a date to end could simply be done by receiving a fake phone call.
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Aashi Agarwal2 years ago
This could be an added safety feature in addition to what these apps offer currently. With the infrastructure of these partnering venues, it becomes possible for these Apps to intervene and prevent mishaps.
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General comments
Michaela D2 years ago
Many people feel awkward about dating online and going to a place where staff caters especially to them may be offputting. These people could have the option to go to a place where they don't need to check-in, the staff is discrete and they intervene only in case of trouble.
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Darko Savic2 years ago
Go on a date in an area that is being guarded by chaperone commandos. At the end of the evening, go home by taking a taxi within the same area or have someone pick you up.
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jnikola2 years ago
Honestly, this is a great idea! I am surprised nobody from Tinder thought of this before. It would definitely make the online dating experience much more comfortable for the ladies.
To make it more comfortable for both partners, these venues could have an option to choose an introduction game, ice-breakers, short games, test various shots with small tasks, etc.
Another existing problem is that online dating culminates once when the couple comes to a private place. Everything goes smooth in the bar or the movies and the girl starts to feel safe and begins to trust the guy, but the tables turn once they are alone. To deal with this, venues you mentioned can have small games where partners need to answer some short questions that reveal the true nature of the sociopaths/psychopath. They could even get their food served a bit cold, or their drink to taste awkward, just to test their reactions. Of course, all of this could be done if the girl asks for it, probably by the cool Hooters code you mentioned in the idea text :)
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Aashi Agarwal2 years ago
J. Nikola This was exactly my reaction when I thought of this idea! There is so much they can do by forging such partnerships. Dating apps could not only connect people based on their hobbies and preferences, they could also help plan out first dates for these couples based on the same preferences.
Like you pointed out, the opportunities for introducing variation, fun, game and safety to the traditional "first date" at these venues upon partnership are limitless. Moreover, Bumble dating app is opening its own restaurant called "Bumble Brew". Imagine what all fun options they could introduce for the dates without having to seek permission from a partnering venue.
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Darryl Koh Yuan Jie2 years ago
This could work with group dates too(within covid restrictions of course)! Since it is generally a safer environment as compared to generic bars etc, singles who prefer group dates could have the option to meet a couple of people at one go too.
Aashi Agarwal Jan 08, 2022
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