Going on a first date can be scary for even the most confident singletons.
From what to wear to whether the conversation will flow, many daters go into the situation with worries playing on their minds.
So imagine how much nicer it would be if you could bring your best friend along.
Tinder has just launched Double Date – a new feature that turns the scary world of dating into a team sport.
The app will let you and a friend join forces and match with other duos, taking the pressure off an intimidating first meeting.
Users can invite friends to ‘pair up’ and scroll through other Double Date pairs to try and find a match.
Once a connection is made, a chat is created and the group can arrange a date.
Tests show women using this function are three times more likely to ‘like’ a pair than they are individual profiles, Tinder said.
The new feature will let you and a friend join forces and match with other duos, taking the pressure off an intimidating first date
Match rates have been significantly higher for those using the feature, the company revealed, and users send 35 per cent more messages in group conversations compared to typical one-on-one chats.
‘Whether you’re getting ready, meeting someone new, or catching up after the date, Double Date makes dating feel more fun, social, and supportive—especially for women and younger users,’ Tinder said.
‘With Double Date, the post-date recap doesn’t have to wait—it starts as soon as the date ends.’
While the feature has only launched in the US for now, a global rollout is planned for July.
This isn’t the first time the dating app has brought user’s friends and family into their dating lives.
Their ‘Matchmaker’ feature allows users to ask friends to recommend profiles for them.
And the ‘Share My Date’ function lets people share their date plans directly with friends and loved ones.
Tinder said their new innovation is designed to make meeting new people ‘way less pressure’.
The online dating company says this feature makes dating feel more ‘fun, social and supportive’
Once a first date has been arranged, deciding what to wear is the next step.
And while red is the shade most associated with love and passion, previous studies have found it’s no longer the colour women reach for ahead of a first encounter.
In fact, those hoping to hit it off with a potential partner are more likely to wear black, researchers found.
A study based on the hit TV series First Dates showed the majority of 546 daters across six series wore black to meet their match.
While evolutionary studies have long pointed to the fact females use red to attract a mate, black is a more modern and fashionable choice, pointing to the large role ‘cultural and societal’ influences play in how we dress, experts said.
