Millennials will be terrible daters. In fact, I know a lot of Millennials who already are terrible daters.
But when I read this article today about Date Check, an iPhone app that lets you do a background check “on-the-go,” I knew we were in serious trouble.
As if you couldn’t already Facebook stalk and Google someone before a date, now you can actually check their criminal record and dating history the second you meet them. This sounds like it would be helpful to Millennials on the dating scene, but it won’t be helpful. In fact it will definitely, definitely hurt us.
Why you ask? Because Millennials will become terrible daters.
The first problem is we already don’t know what we want. Millennials are just now starting to figure out what they really want, and that includes what they want in a mate. Which is why tools like Date Check, will only confuse us more and make it harder for us to know what we want. Do we want someone with a long dating history in Date Check or is better to date someone who doesn’t show up at all?
The second problem is we already pre-judge people too much. Just by using social networks to connect with people, I already know what articles you read today and what you did last weekend. Millennials have been trained to do our research, but tools like Date Check take it too far. Millennials (and future generations) need to learn how to trust their instincts and make good decisions, and the only way to do that is by not knowing everything about someone you meet.
I know that tools like Date Check will make Millennials terrible daters. But this app may not be the only reason Millennials are terrible daters.
Do you think Millennials are terrible daters? Would you use Date Check?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
SO scary! no no no!
Date Check has my vote!! http://twitter.com/KristenKouk/status/4347488411
Date Check is going way too far- half the fun of going on a first date is getting to know them. Date Check would just ruin that and make your date totally paranoid.As for Millenials not knowing what they want, I agree with that, but only because most of us are in our early to mid 20′s, and we’re still growing and changing and figuring out who we are, what we want to do, and where we fit in. It’s only after you figure all that other stuff out that you can decide what you want and what type of person is right for you.
Dear Date Doctor Blake,
I think it’s worth noting that Date Check is just one example of how millennials are avoiding in person contact. I’d like to start a millennial movement where we bring back face-time other than in bars where people may be masking their true personality and genuine interaction isn’t present, with friendships or relationships.
Remember the days when you would walk over to your neighbor or friend’s house or the dorm room next door without calling to see if they were home first? There’s something refreshing about meeting up, instead of talking on the phone for hours, or going out on a limb and asking a new friend if they want to meet up. Sometimes those dates end in horror stories or even in-the-making bad date books
, but at least you took the risk and learned how to communicate in all types of situations and didn’t avoid human interaction by letting the computer screen or iPhone screen get between you and stimulating companionship. Let’s connect in person, people!
Wow, deep for a blog comment…and most likely since it’s after a long work day. Also, do you know anyone who has given up dating completely? I do, and I think it is a terrible idea.
I agree. Online dating sites make people serious first daters… or at least it did that to me. Millennials just dont know how to make human contact period. Lets put down our computers and go out and socialize. (Ive been on my mac for the last three hours).
I can’t find the right post to comment upon. I click the link near the end of your post … but that is the comment link for the next part!
Am I a millennial status?: 1/2
Have you ever thought about writing an book on millennials? If this is something you’d be interested in let me know and we can talk further.
Hey Noah,
I am writing a book on Millennials. It just happens to be in blog format. And I let you read it for free.
Haha, okay. I was talking more of the Charlie Hoehn style of e-book. Books don’t have to cost anything when they are distributed online Seth Godin Style.