As if the convenience of dating on a smartphone wasn't enough, a California man has developed a program to help him automatically ask thousands of women out on dates through the matchmaking site Tinder.
The popular dating application requires both parties "swipe right" on profiles they like, before they are allowed to exchange messages. But Sebastian Stadil developed a string of code to automatically swipe right and send a few messages of introduction to as many women as possible, in an attempt to speed up the process. Stadil's program contacted more than 200,000 women, leading to more than 200 dates during a four-month period last year.
But, while the Silicon Valley software engineer did land a few second and third dates out of the venture, he says he's still looking for true love.
"I guess I'm perhaps a little bit too picky for my own good," Stadil told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Thursday.
The 31-year-old says he devised the program after an amicable breakup, in an attempt to keep up with his ex's romantic exploits on Tinder.
"When I was comparing the success that she had with the success I had, I felt I needed to get some sort of competitive advantage," Stadil said.
Stadil used his computer skills to craft a simple string of code that would automatically swipe right on Tinder. He also programmed the app to contact potential matches on OKCupid. "It kind of automates a lot of the repetitive process of reaching out to people online," he said.
Stadil approached the whole process in systematic way, laying it out like a logic problem and testing different profile photos, pre-written opening messages and automated responses.
Stadil says he found 12,000 "matches" with women willing to talk to him on the site, and spent $6,000 on coffee dates. He went on 150 first dates, 50 second dates and 17 third dates, but he ultimately wrapped up his Tinder exploits without a new woman in his life. His ex, in the meantime, is with a new man.
The digital Romeo admits he's been busy with work recently, and he's no longer spamming Tinder in search of "the one." Instead, he says he's gone back to dating through "traditional sources."
