Tribune NextGen is a fresh series from DAILY TRIBUNE dedicated to exploring key issues relevant to Millennials, Gen Z, and Generation Alpha. From cancel culture and artificial intelligence to "adulting" topics like food, finance, and responsible pet ownership, we’re here to cover what matters most to the next generation of Filipinos.
From AI to the possibility of flying cars, technology has shown great advancements in 2025 and among all aspect of digitalization, communication made everyone closer, sometimes too close that you can find your next “fun” or special someone online.
As someone born of the 90’s, with a zero introduced romantic relationship to the family, every family reunion and occasional dinners ends up with the dreading remarks: “May boyfriend ka na?” (Do you have a boyfriend?), “Kelan ka ikakasal?” (When will you get married?), “Hindi ka na bumabata, bigyan mo na kami ng apo!” (You’re not getting any younger you should give us grandkids). And I’m one with the millennials with the reaction of “In this economy?”
Even adopting pets needs serious maturity and accountability, though, there’s really no harm in trying so here we are, on your behalf, sharing our dating app experience where the only decision will be, to swipe right or swipe left?
In transparency, I’m not a dating app newbie but it has been a while since I last trusted talking to strangers online. The goal? See what it’s like in 2025, bonus if I become one of the app’s success stories.
The lyrics to Randy Crawford’s 1982 song “One Hello” perfectly encapsulate what the dating app experience is. You match with a random person, either one of you starts the conversation and go from there. Now as the test subject, with 55 billion global users, we used Tinder, which is one of the most prominent dating app used in the Philippines.
As a short backgrounder, taken from their website FAQ’s:
How do Tinder® matches work?
To make a match, 2 members must both use the Swipe Right® feature to like each other.
Where does Tinder® work?
Tinder is a global online dating platform where you can meet new people, expand your social network or meet locals in 190+ countries.
Can you find love on Tinder?
If you’re looking for love, you’ve come to the right place — anything is possible on Tinder, and we’ve got the vows to prove it.
Once you’re all set after registration, it’s time to choose your best photo, the wittiest bio then set your preferred age and location of your hopeful match.
Of course, dating apps often get the bad rep as a hook-up source and we respond with one of our team members' regular remark, “What can you do?”
Dating apps are literally a place where people put their best foot forward with their flirting A-game on steroids and a mindset of let’s see where this takes us. So, for anyone who has expectations, whatever that is, lower it.
Most of the users are often straight forward, that’s why aside from playing the swipe game, you gotta read that bio honey. If you see the words: LF: FUBU (Looking For: Fuck Buddy), “Down for fun”, ONS (One Night Stand), “Not looking for anything serious,” “Looking for casual fun,” and, “Cuddle buddy, anyone?” if any of these are not your cup of tea nor your goal, swipe left.
Going to the app game feels like wandering in the Amazon forest, you either become friends with the animals or take the role of a predator or prey. Some message you with the basic “Hi” or “Hello,” while others come in hot with their intentions without letting their time be wasted further.
Frankly, from my swiping experience, with the different location ranges, ages 28-40 and as a woman, I conclude that most of the male users are only in it for a short time fun.
There were conversations where the initial intention of the messages where masked to lure you in and eventually disappoint you of what it actually was for. The other part of the population were hopeless romantics, who are introverts that sometimes are too shy to act forward even in the virtual world.
One consistent topic, however, was the curious inquiries of my sexual activity; my history, body count even up to my deepest desires. This blows my mind how the Philippines, thought to be a conservative nation for its dominant religious preference, is liberated and willing to explore. A good step for a society where proper sexual education and discussion still needs improvement and normalization.
You know what’s the most ironic thing about communication in 2025? The lack of it. People perfected the art of “ghosting,” especially in the dating app scene. Instead of Ariana Grande’s words of wisdom: “I want it, I got it.”
The zillennials say, “We don’t like it, we ghost it.” With no closure whatsoever and a lot of hanging “what if’s?”
To be fair, some get the drill of mutually drifting away and pulling back from the flirting routine but some still hold on even though there isn’t even enough foundation to build on with.
(Side note) And to the guy I was supposed to meet in BGC, I did not ghost you, I accidentally clicked on unmatch!So did I meet anyone in real life? Yes. Did I get nervous during the first date? Yes, and I told him that if ever he does anything wrong, my friends and co-workers are on speed dial for either a wanted poster editing or obituary on the paper. Ha ha!
All in all, if you are not underage and can patiently swipe while keeping an open mind, go do it. It’s fun, convenient, and perfectly opens you up to the “options” the world has to offer.
Just make sure when things transition from the cyberspace to planned dates, for your safety, inform your trusted comrade of your location as well as the basic info on your probable boos.
KaTribu, what do you want us to try next? Tell us in the comments.
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