It's official, the dating apps are dead.

In fact, if TikTok and my most recent findings are anything to go by, they will be sent into outer space with barely a bon voyage. RIP you carpal-tunnel-inducing app of false promises.

You see, all I heard over the holiday season were friends whinging and complaining about dating app fatigue and how no one looks like they do in their heavily filtered shots. How their personalities never match their text banter. How often they get stood up, ghosted or cancelled on at the last minute. And one quick scroll of TikTok will tell you the same thing.

There's video after video of people bidding adieu to the dating apps of 2023 - not to make a return in 2024. Gen Zs are deleting their Tinders, scrapping their Bumbles and choofing off their Hinges.

Sure they provided some weddings, but for every wedding they also provided a hundred million bad date stories. Some even making the news.




'2024 is the year of the 'meet-cute'. A popular new dating term that's used in films or television shows as an amusing or adorable first encounter between two characters,' Jana said






At this lunch, each friend was asked to bring another single friend. One pair (circled) ended up engaged, two couples went on a date afterwards

Now blame it on the annual resurgence of the famous Christmas movie 'The Holiday' or a simple desperation to get back to the good ol' days BA (before apps) but singletons like myself are now choosing a far better way to date. And the results don't lie.

Yep, I'm telling you 2024 is the year of the 'meet-cute'. A popular new dating term that's used in films or television shows as an amusing or adorable first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship.

In the last couple of years, I've had way more success from a 'meet-cute' situation compared to dating apps.

Take for example, the time my newly single friend decided to host a lunch and instructed all us, his single friends, to bring another single friend. The single guys brought their single guy friends, the single girls brought their single girlfriends, and flirt it was a raging success. Two couples went on to date after that lunch and one couple are now even engaged.




'Over Christmas I went to lunch at the local pub - planned by friend who just happened to invite ALL singletons. Guess what, it was another raging success. I met a very cute farmer who I smooched near the taxi rank,' Jana said

Over Christmas I went to lunch at the local pub - planned by friend who just happened to invite ALL singletons. Guess what, it was another raging success. I met a very cute farmer who I smooched near the taxi rank (I know, slightly cringe!) and two of my girlfriends landed themselves dates. 

It was like I had stepped straight back into 90s style dating. You know, when you would take a fancy to a guy on the dancefloor and one of your friends would 'accidentally' push you into him? The original 'swipe right.'

There's something glorious about waking up the next day with fond memories of flirting with someone in a bar. Making eyes. Seeing if they make eyes back at you. The anticipation of them asking for your number. If the night is a real success, even a quick fondle before you jump in a taxi. Or better yet, they jump in with you.

Oh meet-cutes are just the best!











'Okay, so confession. One night, after quite a few wines, I decided it would be a good idea to order some business cards online with my number on it to give to handsome strangers,' Jana said