Tinder has announced a plan to bring background checks to its platform. With the pandemic pushing major growth for dating apps, the move seeks to ensure that the widespread shift to online dating doesn’t leave people vulnerable to cat-fishing, violence, and other forms of victimisation.

Whether on the search for a hook-up or something longer-lasting, digital dating platforms have become the first port of call for many singletons. Canvas8 spoke to three experts to learn more about the modern romance landscape and to find out whether apps have killed the long-term relationship.

What’s the least awkward way to online date during a pandemic? The String app is betting on voice notes. Less invasive than video chatting and more intimate than texting, sending audio snippets gives singletons the control they crave while letting them express their personality in a natural way.

In online interactions, swiping is one of the most common motions, second only to scrolling, but how can design help nudge people into making decisions? Canvas8 spoke with Dr. Mario Pandelaere, associate professor in marketing at Pamplin College of Business, to find out.