Are Dating Apps the Last, Great Hope For the American Literary Journal?

On Monday, Hinge released a free audiobook featuring five original short stories inspired by the dating experiences of real couples using the app. Written and narrated by contemporary authors including Tembe Denton-Hurst, Nicola Dinan, Curtis Garner, Raven Smith, and Rufi Thorpe, this project is part of the dating app's No Ordinary Love series.

Previous volumes of the series have highlighted romantic themes through writing by authors such as Roxane Gay, R.O. Kwon, Brontez Purnell, Isle McElroy, and Oisín McKenna. The goal of the latest anthology is to help users "say how they really feel in a dating culture built on playing it cool." The inclusion of diverse literary talent on the Hinge masthead represents a growing trend of blending dating apps and literature.

Last fall, AFM, a magazine published by the kink-friendly app Feeld, launched as "an arts and literary magazine exploring sexuality and relationships through essays, fiction, poetry, conversations and visual art." Issues of AFM featured a mix of established and emerging authors alongside some less conventional contributors. The appeal of these projects may stem from the desire for a sensual, immersive experience in an increasingly digital world.

Literary fiction has struggled to cross over into mainstream popularity, but small presses like 831 stories are working to bridge the gap by elevating romance into the literary sphere. Both AFM and the new Hinge audiobook use branding and content choices to suggest that romance can be cool and appealing. However, the commercial nature of dating apps raises questions about whether their primary goal is to foster genuine connections or to generate profit.

As digital experiences become more intertwined with physical desires, it remains to be seen if these hybrids will find lasting success.