This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Maya Stokley. Find her on Instagram at @maya.aesthetic. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you are on TikTok and a college student (undergraduate or graduate), you may have seen some skit advertisements from content creators about a new dating app. No more Hinge. No more Tinder. No more Bumble. Developers are shaking in their boots because of the latest dating app called Duet! Instead of swiping left or right based on physical appearance and a few pick-up lines, Duet is changing the game. The app matches people’s personalities and interests to help establish communities and potential love interests. So, what is Duet trying to address? What is in store for this rising platform?
Duet, What Do You Have Going On Here?
The developers at Duet wanted to address the problem of superficiality of the popular dating apps: Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. On those dating apps, anyone can swipe left and right on profiles. The interface and algorithm for Tinder are very straightforward, practically changing the game for hookup culture. For Bumble, it has the same format but is geared towards teenagers and young adults. Hinge is for those who want long-term relationships and for an older demographic. So what is Duet offering?
Duet developers said they recognized how some people want a lower-stakes approach by creating connections. But let’s evaluate this! Duet has two features that help them with their mission: Smart Tag and Voice Prompt. The Smart Tag is the basis of the app, showing a person’s interests. It has icons, and it is very quick to read. Think of it as an elevator pitch. The Voice Prompt feature is similar to Hinge’s voice notes. For example, you click on a prompt and respond so a potential match can hear your opinion. The app is promising to create a more friendly environment. But, let’s create a profile and see what is happening!
Duet Is So Cool And Zillennial-Coded!
Honestly, the Duet app setup’s is like any other dating app! The profile setup is the same as that of Bumble and Hinge. For example, you would have to enter your basic information along with a selfie of yourself for face verification. After you put in your photos and personality tags, you are transported to a beautiful animation of space! Afterwards, the message says: “You are one of a kind!” (It is so lovely and sweet!) After the glorious animation, you can specify your dating preferences, and there are bubbles with particular interests.
Once you click on a bubble, it expands to another bubble that narrows down even further! This feature is very appealing to those who are particular about their type. Also, the feature makes you critically think about what you want to see in a person. For example, I clicked on “Football Fan” and it expanded to five different bubbles that fit the “Football Fan” description. The smaller bubbles had “Sporty” and “Above 6ft”.
You are ready to explore the dating pool once you choose five tags that match your dating preferences! Now, Duet does have the classic swipe right or left feature. However, the profiles are more expansive, with details about the person. For example, I scroll through a profile in the pool and scroll down for a minute! However, I am learning much about this person based on their political standing, zodiac sign, religion, height, lifestyle, and preferred dating methods.
Another very different feature for Duet is that they have “Crushes”. So, “Crushes” is an added feature that resembles a “Rose” on Hinge. You want to get to know this person more and be at the top of the pile of likes for them. So, Duet is using similar features of other dating apps for familiarity, but its setup is very innovative.
Everyone Can Be Themselves!
One profile that caught my eye (not in that way either) was in the “More About Me” section, he talked about the most random things. For instance, he answered honestly, knowing his strengths and weaknesses. But, the last thing he wrote was “Horses are Majestic Creatures” from seeing his profile. I realized that Duet is so unserious!
The following interesting profile was of this person, who wrote almost an essay in his bio. He talked about what he was looking for, but was very explicit about himself. So, from the start, his intentions are clear, and he chose the right app to use. On the other hand, another profile was very vague about what they wanted. So, with the Duet app, you take what you put in. Generally, those who download Duet are truly looking for romantic connections with others.
But, more features make the app very interesting! There is a “Personality Test” that reflects Duet’s mission of connecting with shared interests. With the results, the users can see who they are most likely to match with. Also, a “Duet Clic” feature randomly pairs you with someone based on your zodiac compatibility. So, Duet is very innovative in wanting users to find their love interests.
Overall Rating: 7/10
Good job, Duet! I made a profile to see what they offer and enjoyed my time with the app! The setup was very interactive and entertaining. I was surprised by how they developed the interface to create a bubbly, friendly vibe. The one downfall that Duet should advertise more is its Premium features. On TikTok, their ads showcase successful stories and skits that show college students using the app. But in those 20-second ads, the premium features are not present. Furthermore, their Premium features are more extensive than those of other dating apps like Hinge and Bumble. For example, you do have to pay to see who swiped right on you. But for Duet, these are their premium features:
- See Who Likes You
- Unlimited Likes
- Free Crush x 2 per Day
- Read Receipts
- 1 Turbo per Month
- Restore Match
- Unlock My Likes
- Unlimited Rewind
- Duet Premium Exclusive Icon
Supreme features include daily picks, advanced filters, and the ability to see people nearby. The app is relatively new, so the developers are testing trials to see what users gravitate towards. Overall, Duet is a new dating app with a lot of promise for people to see past physical appearance.
Have you tried Duet? What are your thoughts about it? Did this Duet dating app review help? Share in the comments!
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