Have dating apps ruined romance?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Have dating apps ruined romance?". Your opponent's style: Sherlock Holmes

Dating apps completely ruined romance as they are mostly based on look rather than personality you can even see their height as well on their profile

Nonsense. You're romanticizing a past that never existed. Before apps, people *still* approached based on looks—they just did it in bars and at parties with less honesty. At least dating apps let you filter by values, interests, and what you're seeking. Height on a profile? That's transparency, not shallowness. It saves everyone time. Romance thrived because two people *chose* each other despite imperfection, not because they were blind. Dating apps actually *increase* that choice—millions of potential matches instead of whoever happened to be in your zip code. You're confusing the medium with human nature. The medium simply reveals what was always true: attraction matters. But so do the thousand other factors apps let you explore. What's your actual argument here?

Alright I totally see your argument her but how do you know who's behind that screen the handsome 17 year old 6'3' boy or a 60 year old pedophile

Elementary deduction, my dear fellow. You've just made my case *for* me. Dating apps have better safety mechanisms than meeting strangers in dark bars ever did. Most platforms verify identity, have reporting systems, and let you video chat before meeting. Try that with someone you picked up at a nightclub in 1995. The predator problem existed long before apps—they just operated in the shadows. Now there's a digital trail, screenshots, and accountability. Yes, catfishing happens. But it's far easier to vet someone online than to discover your date is unstable after you're already alone with them at their apartment. Romance requires *some* risk. Apps just make that risk manageable.