Badoo is a free cross platform app that is designed to help
people make friends and hook up online in what is a twenty-first century
dating site in all but name.
Why the hype about Badoo?
There are huge numbers of
social & communication apps around from
Snapchat to
Twitter, but
Badoo
has gained a significant foothold in the battle to attract users. This
is largely because the socialization site has attracted well over a
third of a billion users. For people seeking new people, this fact alone
makes the app highly attractive. If you are looking for that special
someone, then the likelihood is that you will stand more chance using
a service with so many subscribers
compared to one with just a few thousand people using it. The
difference between this app and a conventional dating service - which
might match you to other people in your area with like-minded interests -
is that it operates in a way that is much more familiar to social media
users. You go about using it in much the same way you would a Facebook
account, for example. However, with this app, you are making 'friends'
with strangers. Just like Facebook or Bebo, you can then make use of the
chat & instant messaging functions to
get to know people
and see if there is any genuine attraction there. As such, the
principle is pretty simple and it is this
straightforward functionality
that has made it so popular.
The app's key features
Using the so-called
freemium model - like
Facebook
does, for example – Badoo's creators generate their income by selling
advertising on the site. This is very much the reverse of traditional
dating sites which charge subscribers or limit usage for non-fee paying
users in some way. It functions equally well on Windows, Android and iOs
so you can get flirting with just about anyone online. The social &
communication functions are also geographically modelled so if you
start chatting to someone and later wish to meet up, the chances are
they will be in your vicinity. The operation of
swiping left and right
is used, like it is with
Tinder, to create matches between users. Badoo
refers to matches as 'encounters'. According to the creators, well over
half the users who begin to communicate with each other following a
successful encounter will go on to meet in person at some stage later
on. Your avatar will be moderated so it has to be genuine and
inoffensive. The site supports a huge number of languages meaning its
chat & instant messaging
functions work well if you choose to communicate with overseas users.
Although the makers claim that only a small proportion of the app's
users are using it for finding dates, the fact is that it is primarily a
way for adults to
meet one another online and to flirt.
Create a profile?
Setting up an account with this service is easy and you can even link it
to your Facebook account, if wanted. Great for singletons looking for
dates, the app has limited use as a straightforward social media
experience. As with all dating apps, you should take your
personal security seriously.
