Swipe right, swipe left, like a profile, send a message, match, unmatch; the world of dating apps allows you to start and end relationships in seconds. According to the 2024 Student Life Sex Survey, 65.3% of WashU students are on dating apps. In a rapidly growing online world, it’s unsurprising that a large portion of college students try to connect online. Dating apps are a titillating marketplace of connection, but student motivations for using the apps differ. Some students are looking to form relationships, while others may be searching for a one-time thing.

February may be just beginning, but love is in the air. If you’re older than a freshman or just really into the online dating scene, then you might be familiar with Datamatch, a free matchmaking service for college students that started at Harvard University but has now spread to over 25 different institutions nationwide.

Safety features designed by St. Louis tech startup Noonlight will now be incorporated into dating apps through a new partnership with Match Group, a major online dating company.