A new dating app launched this month to break up the online dating routines and poor habits that users have adopted.
With the LUCK app, developed in Austin, no longer can singles run the same opening line on a new match. They also can’t simply “swipe right” on every profile that pops up to increase the chances of matchable options.
Instead, LUCK forces users to slow down before swiping and craft messages that go far beyond, “Hey. What’s up?”
“Part of the problem we found with online dating is that, basically, men don’t put in enough effort as women do across dating apps,” said LUCK co-founder Albert Nguyen. “The solution isn’t to build something that makes it easier for men to do even less work; we should instead create steps to have men put in more effort.”
To address the chronic swiping, LUCK features a swipe system that goes beyond the swipe right. When users find someone they are interested in, they must indicate whether it's a "serious like" by swiping right or a "casual like" by swiping down.
While Nguyen’s app leaves it up to users to define a “serious” versus “casual” like, Nguyen indicates that a casual like could be for a single who is in town just for the weekend.
Whatever it means, the app only links users with the same intent. For casual matches, users have a 24-hour window to communicate, while serious matches have a five-day time limit. Nguyen said this is to encourage people to meet up in person as opposed to having extended conversations online.
“The change we’re trying to make in the world of online dating is that it should be a fun experience for people,” said Nguyen. “Dating apps are starting to feel mechanical, and we want to make it different.”
LUCK also gamifies online dating by launching randomized word puzzles within the app.
When a user goes to spark a conversation for the first time with a match, several key letters will be missing from the in-app keyboard, making it harder to come up with an intro message.
“To prevent people from saying the same thing over and over again, we’re making people play a little word puzzle,” said Nguyen. “This is a way for us to spice things up, encourage people to be silly and to really think about what they say before they send that first message.”
Nguyen, who said he experienced the repeat message first hand using previous dating apps, said it took him about 15 minutes to come up with a solid greeting when he tested the puzzles.
“It’s a total change of pace from other dating apps,” said Nguyen.
In addition to extra swipes and puzzles, LUCK features badges that users can select to feature on their profiles. These badges include icons that indicate what you’re looking for, like a rebound, soul mate or friend — to name a few.
The app, created in Austin, went live nationally on Nov. 1 and can be downloaded here.
