Dating App Users Turn to Virtual Location Hopping, or “Hoodfishing”

In the evolving landscape of online dating, a new trend is capturing attention: virtual location hopping. While many are still using dating apps as a way to find matches in their local area, others are starting to explore the potential of setting their dating app locations to far-flung cities or even foreign countries.

The concept is straightforward: dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Raya offer users the ability to change their location settings to connect with potential matches beyond their immediate geographical area. For many, this feature is a tool to expand their dating pool, find fresh opportunities, or even test the waters in new cities.

A good example of this is Lydia Karakyriakou, a content creator and former reality TV contestant from Glasgow. After feeling disillusioned with her dating options in Glasgow, Karakyriakou started using Hinge to explore matches in London, eventually relocating to Manchester after finding a promising connection.

The practice of changing locations on dating apps, sometimes referred to as “hoodfishing,” raises questions about authenticity. Users who present themselves as part of a different city or locale than their actual residence gain more dating options, including matches with other users who are explicitly looking for locals.

It isn’t currently clear if this trend has any set-in-stone implications for dating platforms, but this digital location hopping is still a sign of how users’ dating behaviour has begun to evolve in recent years.