Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel, OkCupid, Match.

Dating in 2017 is weird. I mean, look who we caught on Tinder.

Here are the stats: 40 million Americans use online dating services, and there are 87 million singles in the U.S. The amount of 18-to-24-year-olds who use online dating has tripled in the last three years.

The craziest part? Only 5% of Americans who are married or in committed relationships met their partners online, according to the Pew Research Center.

But what’s dating like in Columbia? To start a conversation about it, we asked you: What’s it like dating here (in a semi-college town)? Where do people go to meet other single people? What apps/services are people using? Were you single, and now you’re not, and have a good story about how you coupled up?

“I literally know 5 people who met their now wife/husbands at Tin Roof😂 “ –Lynn Luc

“Cola Tinder game is pretty weak, but Bumble is alright.” –Mary Phillips

“My now husband and I met on a blind date at Hunter Gather. Guess it worked!” –Ebonn Thomas Twilley

“Met my boyfriend on Tinder in Cola!!💑 @mattregnell” –@_megomyeggo

“I met Travis at whole foods!!! I creeped the meat counter bc he was a butcher at the time!!

(dating game = stalker challenge)” –Xanna Garner

“My husband and I met on Match while we both lived in the Midlands” –Brooke Chehoski

“#tinderweddingsforthewin” –Sara L. Fordham

We want to know more. Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or via email to let us know about your dating + single life experiences locally.

Lynn Luc: I literally know 5 people who met their now wife/husbands at Tin Roof😂

Kristin Weaver: My fiancé and I met on Tinder but we went to Tin Roof on our first date

Ellen Marie: I met my now fiancé at tin roof on a Saturday night in January of 2012. We met on the dance floor right as wagon wheel came on and the rest is history!

Emily Metze: Bumble! I guess it's going well so far Brandon Muniz

Ebonn Thomas Twilley: My now husband and I met on a blind date at Hunter Gather. Guess it worked!

Brooke Chehoski: My husband and I met on Match while we both lived in the Midlands

Sara L. Fordham: #tinderweddingsforthewin

Stuart Katherine Dickinson: Kaminsky’s is a great place for a first date, second date, third date, 20th date, 100th date, anniversary, birthday...i mean you just can’t go wrong with sharing an icecream sundae at Kaminsky’s

Xanna Garner: I met Travis at whole foods!!! I creeped the meat counter bc he was a butcher at the time!! (dating game = stalker challenge)

Mary Phillips: cola tinder game is pretty weak but the bumble game is alright

@_megomyeggo: Met my boyfriend on Tinder in Cola!!💑 @mattregnell

@robertcarter: I met the beautiful @sistaachristaa through uhhhh mutual friends at a uhhh local establishment?

@kwdonutrunner: My fiancé and I met on Tinder. We'd been talking for a few days through text when he decided to come into my job at Kaminskys with some of his friends. I agreed to go on a date with him the next day, so we got brunch at Le Peep then spent the afternoon at Tin Roof's St. Patrick's Day Practice. We've been inseparable ever since 😄 we're taking our engagement pics in December and plan on stopping by Kaminskys, Le Peep, and Tin Roof to get some shots since they were all part of our first date 😁

Tips on meeting new people? Y’all suggested getting on dating apps like Tinder + Bumble – and apparently hanging out at Tin Roof can’t hurt, either. Plus, staying connected with local organizations like Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) and joining activities like Everyplay Columbia are natural venues to expand your social circle.

Happy hunting,

– Beth