New Dating App Appetence Wants You to Take Things Slow

Dating apps are all about the swipes. In fact, the process can almost feel game-like, with users swiping left and right as quickly as possible, and it seems there’s an endless supply of potential matches.

So what happens when a new dating app forces you to slow down? It seems counter-intuitive in the current online dating market, but one company wants to try and take it slow.

Appetence is a new app that launched in May for iOS, and focuses on the art of conversation before all information about a match can be revealed.

When you download the app, you are asked a series of questions about preferences relating to music, food, TV, books, movies, and even pets. The app then shows you profiles that are compatible – sort of.

Profile images are blocked out, with a mosaic pattern disguising them. If you want to see a match, you have to earn that privilege by striking up a conversation. As you chat, you are able to “like” the messages they send you. With each like, more of the profile picture is revealed.

While other apps have tried this route, making people wait for the big reveal – Appetence takes it to a whole new level. According to website Mashable, BOTH you and your match have to “like” each other’s messages at least 50 times EACH before the entire profile picture is revealed. So yes, it takes some commitment. And a lot more words than your typical app.

You could assume by the time you see each other, there’s some investment in your back and forth banter since you spent so much time pursuing it. Hopefully this sparks some online chemistry before you meet.

"The conversations have become monotonous and similar, and having a 'Match' is no longer as exciting as the first few times," Appetence founder Camilla Forsell said in a statement.

While the concept is interesting, the real question is – will people be willing to invest time and energy into the process? Other online dating companies have lost users to to fatigue, including eHarmony where the sign-up process includes a lengthy questionnaire, and until recently, users had to go through a few steps to be able to message each other freely.

Unfortunately, there are many dating apps on the market, and people can be on multiple apps if they are serious about their search. Who’s to say you can’t find the same match on Appetence that you could much more easily see on Tinder?

Appetence is hoping to change the online dating game - we'll see if it sticks.