Finding love online

Since the dawn of the internet, lonely singles have been trying to meet their other half online. While online dating might have started with AIM chats and ads on Craigslist, the last few years has seen an overwhelming swell in dating app choices. More commonly used apps include Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and LGBTQ-app Grindr, but there are also apps for more specific interests, such as religious app JDate for Jewish singles or hobby-based app Mouse Mingle, made for Disney fans.

A poll of 45 Southwestern Community College students showed about 60% of college-aged students use dating apps. This is compared to 30% of all U.S. adults according to a Pew Research Center study done in 2019.

SWCC students reported Tinder as the most used dating app, with Bumble and Hinge as the runner-ups. Of the 38% of SWCC students that had found or knew someone who had found a successful relationship on a dating app, 72% of these relationships came from Tinder.

Despite the high level of students who have used dating apps, 75% of them said they don’t like dating apps. There were a variety of reasons given for this, including “not safe,” “hard to get a sense of what the other person is like - too focused on judicial appearance” and “most people are never honest in their profiles or pictures”. This negative sentiment toward dating apps was also seen on the Creston News Advertiser’s Facebook page.

Despite these negative feelings, it is clear from the studies and polls people still have hope when it comes to online dating. Many people have found dating apps to be successful, including here in Creston.

Haylee LaMasters and Andrew Prochello

Haylee LaMasters met her boyfriend Andrew Prochello on Bumble in 2021. LaMasters said it didn’t take long for the two of them to hit it off.

“I came across his profile and I liked what I saw, so I swiped on him,” LaMasters said. Many modern dating apps have a feature in which the user can swipe right on a profile, therefore liking the profile. “We talked for quite a few weeks before we went on our first date.”

LaMasters said they had a special connection immediately, sharing how he brought her out of her shell.

“When we first started talking, it felt like we already knew each other,” LaMasters said. “I’m a very nervous person, but on the first date, he just had this presence where I felt comfortable enough and talked the entire date.”

LaMasters and Prochello celebrated their first anniversary late last year. Throughout that time together, LaMasters said they’ve had a wonderful time.

“We have a really good relationship,” LaMasters said. “He goes above and beyond, always the funny one in the room, very outgoing, caring and extremely supportive. He’s helped me become a better version of who I am.”

Though currently long distance, LaMasters and Prochello plan on moving in together this summer, where they’ll share their adopted German Shepherd, Tucker.

LaMasters encouraged people to continue looking for their person.

“You’ll least expect when someone comes into your life,” LaMasters said. “Don’t give up on love or the hope of finding that one person who truly makes you happy and cares for you.”

Marissa and Briar Wynn

Marissa and Briar Wynn have been together for six years, meeting on the app MeetMe. Both Marissa and Briar were encouraged by their friends to join MeetMe. However, it took them a while to warm up to each other.

“I actually ignored his message for quite a while before deciding one day to answer it,” Marissa said.

After talking for a while online, they decided to meet at Casa del Oro for their first date, which Marissa said started out slow.

“I was super, super nervous,” Marissa said. “I think we sat at Casa for like half an hour... We didn’t know what to talk about and were both pretty quiet.”

However, by the end of that first date, they were hooked.

“Neither of us had ever dated somebody from online before,” Marissa said. “It worked out really well. Right after the first date, we started dating and never lost touch again.”

Marissa and Briar married in 2019 and now have two sons together. Marissa said that the last six years have flown by.

“It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that we just met, so it’s crazy that in six years so much has changed,” Marissa said. “We own a house and have kids and our own family... I love it.”

Bobbie and Tim Lyons

Bobbie and Tim Lyons have been together for 14 years, originally meeting via a dating feature on Yahoo in 2009.

Bobbie said it’s funny to look back at how they first met.

“We were married and he says, ‘When you first started talking to me, that really wasn’t me talking to you, that was my best friend,’” Bobbie said.

Despite originally talking to Tim’s friend, Bobbie said they quickly became good friends.

“We exchanged phone numbers and such but I told him that I wasn’t interested in a relationship because I had some bad experiences,” Bobbie said. “I said we could just be friends and then we’ll take it from here. Fourteen years later, we’re still together.”

Bobbie said she has enjoyed the many adventures they’ve taken together.

“We do a lot of different things,” Bobbie said. “I’m always up for trying something new.”

Meeting someone online was something new for Bobbie, but she said she’s happy she did it.

“It was a long-distance relationship, so we had to talk quite a bit on the phone,” Bobbie said. “We first met up Valentine’s week, so this will be 14 Valentine’s together.”

Bobbie and Tim will celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary in July.