You've tried everything: smiled at that guy at the gym, but he didn't notice. You shot your shot in the DMs, she left you on read. You let your friends set you up with "the perfect guy," but he wasn't. You went out every weekend hoping to meet someone organically, and all you met were people who asked for your number, then never texted, or&nbsp; who texted at 2 AM with "you up?"

So now you're here, staring at the Tinder and Badoo icons on your phone like they're a personal failure, because dating apps are for desperate people, right? or weirdos, catfish, and men who lie about their height. Except... your friend met her boyfriend on Tinder. Your coworker is engaged to someone from Badoo. Even your cousin, who swore she'd never stoop that low, is moving in with someone he swiped right on six months ago. So maybe the problem isn't the apps. Maybe it's that you don't know how to use them.

This isn't a pep talk. This isn't going to convince you that dating apps are magical or that you'll find your soulmate in three swipes. This is a survival guide because if you're going to do this, you might as well do it right.

Tinder vs. Badoo: Which One Should You Actually Download?

Before you start swiping, you need to pick the right app. And yes, it matters.

This is the one everyone knows. It's quick, shallow, and brutally honest about what it is: a looks-based matching game. You swipe right if you're attracted. You swipe left if you're not. If you both swipe right, you match. Simple.

The good: Huge user base, especially in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. You'll have options.

The bad: It's so looks-based that if your photos aren't top-tier, you're basically invisible. Also, a lot of people are just there to mess around, not actually date.

This is the other major player in Nigeria. It's been around longer than Tinder, and it works a bit differently. You can send messages to people even if you haven't matched yet (which sounds convenient but also means you'll get a lot of unsolicited messages from people whose profiles are just gym selfies and a Nigerian flag emoji).

The good: More people are actually looking for relationships here, not just hookups.

The bad: The free version is basically useless. You'll need to pay for premium features if you want to be seen, and even then, the quality of matches can be... questionable.

If you're in a major city and you have good photos, start with Tinder. If you're willing to deal with more unsolicited messages but want a slightly more "serious" crowd, try Badoo. Or just download both. You're already here. Might as well commit.

How to Set Up a Dating App Profile That Actually Gets Matches

Your profile is probably boring, not because you're boring, but because you're doing what everyone else does. Generic photos, vague bio, zero personality.

Your Bio: This is where most people fumble. Either they write nothing at all (lazy), or they write an essay (no one's reading that), or they write something so generic it could apply to literally anyone.

The goal is to sound like an actual person, not a template. Give them a reason to swipe right and something to start a conversation with.

How Dating App Algorithms Work And Why You're Not Getting Matches

Dating apps aren't just showing your profile to everyone. They're using an algorithm to decide who sees you and when. If you're not getting matches, the algorithm has probably buried you.

Pro tip: When you first sign up, you get a "newbie boost." The app shows you to a ton of people to get you hooked. Use this wisely, set up your profile properly before you start swiping so you don't waste your boost on a half-assed profile.

Dating App Red Flags to Spot Before You Swipe Right

You can avoid 90% of terrible matches just by paying attention to profiles. Here are the red flags:

Conversation red flags (we'll get to this in a sec, but keep these in mind):

Starting&nbsp; Conversations That Don’t Die Immediately

You matched. Congrats. Now what? Most conversations on dating apps die because they're boring. "Hey." "How are you?" "What do you do?" Snooze.

If you want a conversation that actually goes somewhere, you need to give people something to respond to.

The key is to make it easy for them to respond. Use open-ended questions, playful energy, something that shows you actually read their profile instead of copy-pasting the same line to everyone.

And if they respond with one-word answers? Stop trying. They're either not interested or they have the personality of a spoon. Either way, not your problem.

When to Move From Dating Apps to Real Life (And How to Stay Safe)

You've been chatting for a few days. The conversation is good. You're both interested. Now what?

How to suggest it: Don't make it a big deal. Keep it casual. "We should grab drinks sometime" or "Want to continue this conversation over coffee?"

If they're interested, they'll say yes. If they deflect or change the subject, they're not ready, or they're not serious.

The Reality of Using Dating Apps in Nigeria

Dating apps in Nigeria come with their own unique challenges. The scammers, yes, they exist. If someone's profile seems too good to be true (model-level photos, vague job descriptions, asks for money within a week), it probably is. Block and move on.&nbsp;

A lot of people on dating apps are married or in relationships. Watch for:

Some people are explicitly looking for financial arrangements. If that's not what you want, make it clear in your bio and unmatch anyone who brings it up. Reverse image search is your friend. If someone's photos look professional or too perfect, Google them.

Look, dating apps aren't perfect. They're shallow, exhausting, and sometimes soul-crushing. You'll match with people who never message you. You'll have great conversations that go nowhere. You'll meet people who lied about their height, their job, or their entire personality but they work. Not for everyone, not every time, but they work.

People have found real love on these dating apps and maybe, you will too or maybe you won't. Maybe you'll hate it and delete the app after two weeks. That's fine too but at least you tried. At least you gave yourself another option instead of waiting for a meet-cute that might never happen.

So download the app. Set up your profile. Swipe. Message. Meet someone. And if it doesn't work? At least you'll have some wild stories to tell.

Skeptical about dating apps? Fair. But if you're going to try Tinder or Badoo, here's how to do it right, spot red flags, and actually find true love.

Sex & Relationships

Dating App 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Swipe


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