In the past, the only way to really get to know someone was to meet them face to face and go on a date. That may have meant dinner in a restaurant or going to a social event or even speed dating. 

Speed dating has been a very trendy way to find out if you want to get to know someone better because it was quick and you could meet a number of people very quickly. Speed daters would sit across from each other for a predetermined time (usually a minute or two) and have the opportunity to quickly ask each other questions. Then the bell would ding or someone would blow a whistle and one side of the table would move forward to talk to the next person.

Video dating is becoming more popular though and dating apps like Bumble and even Facebook Dating are realizing that they need to step up and give people the option of meeting people in a virtual setting. These one on one virtual dates give people the ability to get to know potential partners in a secure setting.

The Match Group, which owns several dating apps has launched various virtual dating options. Their Match app has already integrated one on one video dating. Another app they own, Hinge is about to launch virtual dating through the app. Plenty of Fish, also owned by The Match Group, recently launched live streaming, allowing people to gather with friends and potential partners in one virtual room.

A blockchain dating app, Flinter has been a leader in this technology. Not only can you go on a virtual date but you can get compensated for it with its internal currency. This currency can then be donated to a charitable cause or exchanged for real money that you can use in real life. Users can invite each other on virtual dates right in the app. A token is paid and then the two users get paid in tokens for going on the date. If they continue to date on the app, they earn more tokens. If the dating continues into the real world (when the world opens up again) they can still earn tokens. In fact, couples that stay together will have even more ways to earn tokens.

Flinter also has one of the best privacy systems. They are transparent about how your information is used. Users of the app can opt in to sharing more information about themselves and how they use the app and get rewarded for it – of course, with more tokens.

Will Virtual Dating Become the Future of Dating?

Apps that have included some form of online dating have seen an increase in use. The more options singles have, the more they seem to use the apps.

For many people, virtual dating is a safer transition from messaging and chat. Virtual dating gives people to meet face to face. They can see if there is chemistry between them and they can spend time in a casual setting without the pressure to get physical. 

Women especially may find that meeting someone in a real-time setting, even a public setting like a coffee shop or restaurant, creates expectations of a physical intimacy later in the date. Not everyone is ready for that, so many people are hesitant to go on a date right away.

In the future, daters may find that virtual dates have been useful in vetting potential partners for dating in real life. When you go on a virtual date you can learn how good of a conversationalist someone is, whether or not they have a sense of humor, whether they are respectful and if they can listen, among other things.