Finding love online is very hard. Many people are frustrated with dating apps. The writer Matt Bell decided to try something different.

Dating apps are full of problems. Men show photos with babies that are not theirs. Some men still do not know what they want. One man named Ryan is 37 years old. He still does not know his dating goals. Many men also talk a lot about their height.

For gay men, it is even more specific. A new app called Sniffies is now popular. It is similar to Grindr. But on Sniffies, men do not show their faces. This feels anonymous and sometimes unsafe.

Matt Bell wanted to meet someone in a different way. He decided to try real hobbies in real life. He tried 47 different hobbies. He wanted to meet a partner outside of the internet.

One hobby was running. Matt joined a marathon. He ran 28 kilometres. Then he realised something important. He does not like running at all. But he kept trying other hobbies.

Meeting people through hobbies can be better. You share a real interest with someone. You see their real face and personality. There is no profile to hide behind.

Gay men often face extra challenges in dating. LGBTQ+ spaces are sometimes limited. In smaller cities, there are fewer places to meet people. Apps became very important for this reason.

But apps also create new problems. People feel lonely even when talking to many people. Connections online can feel shallow or fake. Many gay men want something more real.

Matt's experiment shows one possible answer. Try new activities. Go to new places. Meet people in person. It takes more courage than swiping on a phone. But the results can be more meaningful.

You may do things you regret when looking for love. Matt ran a marathon he did not enjoy. But he learned something about himself. And maybe that is also part of finding the right person.

The search for love is never simple. But stepping away from the screen can be a good first step.