Constant swiping. Situationships. Hookup culture. Catfishing. These are just part and parcel of modern dating today, and let’s be real: it kinda sucks. In our current app-driven dating landscape, trying to forge a genuine romantic connection is, ironically, hyper-unromantic. A recent study by Forbes, for example, reveals that 79% of Gen Zs have experienced dating app burnout thanks to the endless swiping, repetitive conversations, and upkeep that comes with putting yourself out there on Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, etc.
In response, many Gen Zs are choosing to go old-school. This past year has seen a surge of dating parties in Singapore built around IRL meet-ups, where singles get to mingle with one another in the hopes of meeting someone new, if not, The One. While these sound like the matchmaking mixers and speed dating parties your grandparents would go to, albeit remixed, the rise and growing popularity of dating parties in Singapore proves Gen Z’s appetite for in-person connection over endless, thumb-numbing swiping on dating apps.
If you’ve seen videos from companies like One Date, Never Strangers, or Meet Me In The Middle cross your social media feed with their take on the dating party format, and have been interested in finding out what the vibe is like before you sign up, here’s Lee Wei Jie*’s take. Wei Jie is a 24-year-old photographer and videographer who recently attended a Never Strangers Party, and is here to spill the deets.
The rest of the article is written from Wei Jie’s perspective, based off an interview with ZULA.
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I just got out of a long-term relationship late last year, and I’m not currently looking for anything. I am on dating apps, but I never do meet-ups, and find apps quite tiring.
It’s a bit cliché, but I’ve decided to just focus on myself. While I’m not actively pursuing a relationship, I am open to the idea of meeting new people. If something romantic happens, it happens.
I was invited to the inaugural Never Strangers event by people I knew, and was intrigued by the prospect of a dating party as a way to meet someone new. Never Strangers frames itself as a novel way to meet people organically—it’s not just an event for singles to meet at a club. With Never Strangers, your experience starts with quizzes, where your answers are fed through an AI algorithm. From there, the AI matches you with an attendee you’re supposedly the most compatible with. My curiosity was piqued, but I kept my expectations low.
The party was held at a nightclub, and started at 8:15pm. After registration, you’re asked to complete a questionnaire that will eventually lead you to your ideal match. In the quiz, you’re asked to rank sentiments on a scale based on how much they resonate with you, like the Myers-Briggs test. Statements like “I am a workaholic”, “I am an extrovert”, and “I believe in astrology”, are just some of them.
Then, for most of the party, you’re asked to play a game of human bingo. Participants are given a bingo card, and they have to cross off a book when they meet new people who fit certain criteria on the bingo. The objective, I think, is to have people mingle with as many others as possible so you get a feel of the other attendees.
I went to Never Strangers alone and thought it was going to be very awkward. But, it ended up just being like meeting new people at an orientation camp, with the bingo as an icebreaker.
Towards the end of the night, each person has their match announced, and you’re given some time to interact with that person. You only get one match, and they’re supposed to be the most compatible person in the room for you.
Even with this so-called perfect match and the AI algorithm, the dating party wasn’t foolproof. Physical attraction and finding common ground with the person you’re matched with still makes or breaks whether you’ll want to go on dates with the person or be their friend after the night ends.
I wasn’t super compatible with my match. Our tastes in music, pop culture, and our general lifestyles were so different. I’m not sure that many people even ended up with successful matches after the party.
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Some people say these dating parties are just another avenue for hookup culture, and I guess that can be true. I think the possibility of finding a hookup from an event like this is much higher than finding a potentially serious relationship, given the short amount of time you’re given to interact with one another. You’re also in a club, which isn’t the best environment for making romantic connections.
I do think a dating party is a great space to meet new people you wouldn’t otherwise interact with, though. I have met some friends from that night. Friendships are hard to come by as a working adult, so if you’re just interested in meeting new people, and not so much a new romantic partner, then an event like Never Strangers might work.
Will I go to a dating party like this again? Honestly, no. The concept is very interesting, but I think it’s just a bit of a trend right now, and we will soon go back to the status quo, of swiping on dating apps, or hoping we’ll find that someone in real life, by chance.
If people would like to try a party out, go ahead though! It is ultimately an interesting experience, even if it’s not for me.
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Lee Wei Jie is a pseudonym.
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