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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Love Is Blind' Fans Sick of Dating Apps Try New Way—For Some, It Works
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Friends Tolu and Ife are both 27, live in the UK, and are Love Is Blind fans. They're also both single, which is what brings them to a dimly lit bar in the bustling centre of London to test the real-life version of Netflix's flagship dating "experiment" show ahead of season 2 of the UK version. Outside the bar, a line stretches onto the streets of Soho, the iconic central district of the English capital, with many voicing the same frustration: fatigue with the current dating game. "I think the worst part about dating right now is the lack of commitment. I think everybody's a bit scared these days," said Tolu, a learning development coach from Essex. Love Is Blind offers an alternative. The format sees around 20 contestants separated by gender into living quarters for 10 days during which their sole focus is to date the other contestants without ever seeing them, with the goal of getting engaged and progressing to the next stage of the show. The engaged couples go on a trip, then live together in their home towns, meet friends and family, and ultimately decide whether or not to go through with a wedding, determining whether—as the hosts frequently remind viewers—love really is truly blind. Tolu's friend, Ife, a solutions architect at a cloud tech company, based in North West London, was thrilled at the chance to step into the real-life pods as part of the promotional event hosted by Netflix in collaboration with Thursday Dating, a UK-based app that organizes weekly singles events. "Love is Blind is my dream reality TV show to be on. I feel like it's a very good style of dating," she said. But, much like in the show, which has only seen a few couples remain married, the event proved that when it comes to dating, there is no one-size-fits-all solution—even at a time when singles are more disenchanted with dating apps than ever. Inside the Real-Life Pods The pod attendees of the event entered to see whether they could form a connection blindly. The pod attendees of the event entered to see whether they could form a connection blindly. Lydia Patrick/Lydia Patrick Like in the show, the pods—small booths separated by a curtain—forced participants to rely on conversation alone to gauge whether a spark could form. Prompt cards encouraged deeper discussion, and after each session, participants pressed a red or green button to indicate if they wanted to meet their date face-to-face. Both Tolu and Ife said they've been making an active effort to attend more in-person dating events, believing it cuts out the nonsense and is a foolproof way of immediately ascertaining whether there is a connection. It appears they are part of a wider shift as more people are stepping away from swiping. A Forbes-backed survey from May 2025 found 79% of Gen Zers who had used dating apps in the past year experienced "dating app burnout," and Eventbrite reported over 1.5 million searches for "dating" and "singles events" in just one year. Tami, 30, from Camden, who works in finance, was trying out the pods after ending a long-term relationship last year. "I'm not on dating apps, so I prefer to meet people in real life and chat to see if we get on," Tami told Newsweek. "Every time I've been to one of these events before, we always meet really nice people, and you never know where it can go. You'll know straight away whether you get on with someone, so you're not wasting your time small-talking back and forth and trying to arrange a date." The Love is Blind UK hosts, Matt and Emma Willis. The Love is Blind UK hosts, Matt and Emma Willis. Lydia Patrick/Lydia Patrick Kajal, 29, and Cameron, 26, are also disillusioned with dating apps, which led them to try the pods. "It's empty. There's nothing in it. On dating apps, there's no soul in it. These are photos, these are words, but even when you talk to them, it's an incomplete form of communication. There's nothing really coming back and forth," Cameron told Newsweek. "I've been single since December, and I've dated two people since. Honestly, I feel like they tend to end not respectfully, and I don't feel like I was treated the way that I deserve through apps," added Kajal, a support engineer. Kajal entered the pod and caught a quick glimpse of Cameron's black size 11 sneakers under the curtain—something she "approved immediately." "The pod experience felt quite natural to me. I felt like it had quite a calming energy," she told Newsweek. The two began with general conversation before moving on to the prompt cards, which sparked deeper discussion. One card read: "Would you go to bed angry?" Cameron said he would, preferring to wake up emotionally regulated and with a fresh perspective. Kajal preferred resolving issues before bed—though she respected her partner needing time to process. Despite their different approaches, the discussion helped them find common ground, and they plan to keep talking and see where their initial spark might lead. Does the Experiment Work? Love Is Blind premiered in February 2020 on Netflix, and instantly caused a stir. As COVID-19 led to shutdowns across the world shortly after, more people were tuning in to easy-watching TV, and the first season of the show became one of the streaming platform's biggest successes of the year. In the years since, multiple splin-offs have aired in different territories, including Brazil, Japan, and Sweden. In 2024, season 1 of Love Is Blind UK produced drama, scandal, and memes—but also real love stories. Among the romantic successes: Benaiah and Nicole, who are still married, and Jasmine and Bobby, who are expecting a baby. For others, the pods were transformative in different ways. Demi Santana Brown, 32, from Southeast London, sees her season as a success—even though it didn't end in marriage. "Season 1 was a self-love journey, even though I was there to find a husband and fall in love. I did connect with someone, but we didn't get married. The lesson I learned was how to love yourself. It was beautiful to be in that experience and learn as I went along. It was an experience I didn't know I needed, and I'm forever grateful for it," Demi told Newsweek. After the experiment, she took a year of celibacy before returning to the "cold streets" of dating—this time with clearer intentions. "The physical side of things is not a priority. It's like third on the list. I want to know someone for who they are because, at the end of the day, when the lights go off at night, you're not going to see that person. It's the person you're having deep conversations with. You want an emotional connection and to feel safe." As for the singles looking for love in the London (untelevised) pods, the experience was mixed. For Tami, the pod date was unsuccessful, as she found the conversation one-sided. Daniel, 32, also didn't find love, likening the experience to "sparking conversation in a sauna." "Once I exited the pod, I felt a bit more air, so I felt less lightheaded. It wasn't love at first sight, unfortunately, but she seemed like a nice person." But Kajal and Cameron were positive about the experience. "I very much encourage in-person events because it gives you the opportunity to actually get to know someone's energy and their charisma," Kajal told Newsweek. She added, "Someone might not be attractive in a picture, but their confidence, the way that they're attracted to you, their hobbies, and interests in person, and having that one-to-one connection and feeling that vibe is something you don't really get from an app. Also, when you come to these events, you know that person cares enough to show up in person." Love Is Blind UK season 2 premiered Wednesday, August 13, on Netflix, following the journeys of more single participants taking an unconventional path to lasting love.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I'm not paying to attend a kid's party'—Mom's viral take has parents fired up
A viral Instagram video by @tolufrimpong with over 1.5 million views has parents talking about a surprising trend: asking guests to help pay for kids' birthday parties. Some parents praised her honesty, while others were stunned that this practice is becoming more common. 'Let's normalize having birthday celebrations within our budget instead of passing the cost onto other parents. The cost of living is hitting us all.' Her point? If you decide to throw a birthday party, you should foot the bill. And with inflation making everything from groceries to gas feel like a luxury purchase, the idea of asking other parents to chip in for a party that's not even for their kid is raising eyebrows. Apparently, yes—at least for some families. Some parents are now asking for cover charges, ticket fees, or even Venmo requests to help pay for extravagant birthday parties at indoor trampoline parks, petting zoos, or play cafes. One commenter, @moneysavvymumuk, was floored: 'Wait… what!? This is a thing? Are you serious?? I am literally shocked to the core.' Another, @faithpeace1.0, couldn't believe the financial burden: 'Pay for entrance and then buy a gift?!?? That's a firm no.' It's one thing to ask guests to bring their own food to a barbecue (reasonable). It's another to throw a party at an expensive venue and then invoice the parents who show up. Related: 'No plastic, no noise, no color': Mom's viral birthday party rules spark backlash online Let's be real—kids' birthday parties can get expensive fast. • Indoor play spaces? $300–$500 for a two-hour rental. • Bowling alleys? $20+ per kid, not including food. • Trampoline parks? Some charge per child, plus require waivers, extra for socks, and additional costs for arcade tokens. As kids get older, their birthday expectations often grow, and some parents are feeling the squeeze. One commenter, @ruti18, pointed out: 'Those jump places are expensive. And as kids get older, so do their tastes. I have bought packages and still said bring your own money for extras. Kid equivalent to BYOB.' Sure, party costs can add up, but should the answer really be to pass that bill onto other parents? There's a big difference between splitting costs (like if a group of families plans a shared event) and asking guests to pay for your child's special day. Tolu's stance is simple: stay within your budget. Some years she's thrown huge parties with 100+ guests, and other years it's been a movie night and a homemade cake. The key? It's always been her expense. Many parents in the comments agreed—kid parties don't have to be extravagant to be memorable. The nostalgia of backyard birthday parties, homemade scavenger hunts, and DIY sleepovers is real, and they cost far less than today's over-the-top, Instagram-worthy bashes. I get it. I'm currently planning my child's first birthday party, and although I know he'll have zero memories of this, we want to celebrate with our friends and family. We're saving costs by having it at our house, but we did rent a party bus play space for the rest of the kids, are getting it catered so we don't have to worry about food and drink, and even scanned through Etsy for those adorable cupcake toppers with our little one's face on them. It's already snowballed a little bit more than we originally expected, but gathering everyone to celebrate this year of our life is going to be fun for us too—and hopefully worth the money for the memories. And no, I'm not charging anyone and gifts aren't even expected. Related: TikTok mom's controversial take on birthday parties is raising eyebrows Tolu jokes that after sharing her thoughts, she might be getting fewer birthday invitations next year—but if it means avoiding Venmo requests for every party her kid attends, she's okay with that. What do you think? Should parents foot the bill for birthday parties, or is it fair to ask guests to contribute? Let's discuss.
