Where dating subcultures and technology meet

Technology is enabling subcultures and romance to intersect with the use of niche dating apps and niche dating websites.

From rare hobbies to unusual jobs, mobile technology is moving at a fast and furious pace to accommodate people who don’t fit the traditional mold. Nowhere is this trend more prevalent than in the universal pursuit of the ideal relationship. While general population apps like Tinder, Bumble and OKCupid have most singles covered, many are opting for dating apps that cater to a specific interest or lifestyle choice. Apart from the confidence boost that most dating apps provide of knowing that whoever you are matched with has a mutual initial interest in chatting, niche dating apps lend an extra layer of assurance that “this person just might get me.”

Some interesting niche dating apps making the scene include an app for.

GlutenFreeSingles

Their slogan is fittingly, “enjoy life with a gluten free partner,” and identifies good candidates for their dating community including, gluten free, celiac, allergic and health conscious singles. For those of us not in the gluten free world, who indulge in pizza, cookies and bagels without a second thought, it’s hard to understand the need for such a social and dating community. However, GlutenFreeSingles states, “you never have to feel alone, awkward, or a burden because you are gluten-free.”

I can certainly relate to feeling awkward or like a burden for other health-related reasons (anxiety anyone?) so the need for gluten-free singles to gravitate towards potential mates who get their dietary and health challenges seems to be a valid concern and something to be taken into consideration when socializing or dating. I guess it’s one less thing to have to explain.

Bristlr

“Tinder for beards” as the website describes itself, poses this statement to potential users: Connecting those with beards to those who want to stroke beards. Apparently, there are women (or men) who are aroused or at least comforted by stroking the facial hair of their partner. Well then, Bristlr is for you. Available on iOS and Google Play, this app certainly provides an ego boost for beard wearers and fertile ground for beard lovers. If bearded men are your type, you’ll be a kid in a candy store, and if you are a bearded man, you come to the table with brownie points.

In the interest of cutting any misunderstandings off at the pass, this app is not for people looking for “beards” the euphemism for gay singles looking for heterosexual covers. In this case, it’s purely literal. The app’s promo video begins with an urban bearded hipster picking up the app to create his profile and cut to two attractive young women scrolling through bearded men on the app while looking extremely engaged in the perceived eye candy in front of them. The message: if you’re bearded or a beard lover, hop on this follicle- flush gravy train to find your match.

FarmersMatch

Calling all farmers’ daughters? Not so much. The FarmersMatch dating app is not for people with a holdover crush on Gilligan’s Island’s Mary Ann, as it is for men and women who live by the motto, “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy and wise.” Since launching in May 2016, FarmersMatch has gained an impressive 300,000+ members around the world with many of them legitimately working in the agricultural, farming, rural and cattle-ranching industries.

Available on iOS and Google Play, other FarmersMatch members identify themselves as believing in the farming or “country” lifestyle and having country values. According to founder, Derek Ma, who created the app to accommodate his own preferences for folks with down-home values, there are a surprising number of members in larger metropolitan states like New York and California. Other popular states for the app include more likely regions of the United States like Texas and Colorado. In addition to its U.S. members, other countries jumping on board include Ireland, UK and New Zealand. According to Ma, the app, which features the all-to-common swipe modality, claims it pares down its features to be more user-friendly towards country folks who are not as tech-savvy as urbanites. They also cite a stringent moderating staff to ensure “no spammy profiles” on the app.

EquestrianSingles

Horses are majestic creatures: beautiful, emotionally accessible, meditative to equestrians who live to care for horses and make riding time a priority in their lives. Whether English or western style riding, horsemen and horsewomen are passionate about their lifestyle and want to share it with a partner. EquestrianSingles is the product of a merger with EquestrianFriends.com acquisition of CountryWesternSingles.com, and the result is 90,000 successful matches to date, according to the community’s website. Matches are described as friendships, dates and relationships, and we are guessing, riding.

The website is a bit stodgy and lacks a mobile component, but the concept is valid and on target with many Americans who live to ride, and tend to be animal lovers, to boot! The website also cites country music from the likes of George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline. In case that doesn’t draw you in, they also court those who love square dancing, line dancing and dancing the two-step; the country western life in short.