If you’re nervous about going on a date and just want to stay home and play video games at night, there’s an app for you: Date Like Goblins, a new dating platform debuting on Kickstarter this week and releasing later this year, invites you on dates that take place inside your favorite video games. Fortnite or Final Fantasy You can get to know your date by voice chatting. How cute!
Date Like Goblins is one of those dating platforms that caters to niche interests: there’s an app for everyone, whether you’re a farmer, a Christian, a jam-band fan, or a rope bunny. These smaller, more tailored communities can be seen as an antidote to the fatigue caused by the overly monetized and alienating experience of big dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge.
This week, we’re joined by WIRED staff writer Amanda Hoover to talk about Date Like Goblins and other apps where she’s learned the tricks of online love.
Show Notes
Read Amanda’s story on “Date Like Goblins” Read Lauren Good’s “Date Me” documentary Read Jason Parham’s article on Boomer apps Read all of our dating articles
Recommendations
Amanda recommends making buttery coconut bars for your next summer potluck party, while Lauren recommends these from a recent episode. daily from The New York Times Taffy Brodesser Akner talks about her new book. Recommended by Michael Trickster: The Lives of Carlos Castanedaa podcast about the famous author and counterculture leader’s wild and mysterious history.
Amanda Huber can be found on social media at @Amanda HuberLauren Good @Lauren GoodMichael Carole is @snackfight. The main hotline is @Gadget LabThe show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@).Boone Ashworth). Theme music is by Solar Keys.
How to listen
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