I met my husband, Patrick, on OkCupid a little over five years ago, shortly before Tinder launched and the “yea or nay” swiping aspect became so popular. I imagine that if I were single now, I may not exactly prosper with this model of dating that fosters both feelings of instant gratification and instant rejection.

I’d likely incorporate a slow-dating approach, a trend that has been picking up steam. When I first heard the term, embraced by dating apps like Once and Hinge, I thought it meant to date, well, slowly, perhaps even taking the old-fashioned approach of delaying a first kiss; but it’s actually about dating mindfully and meaningfully — and not necessarily by sacrificing momentum.

Slow dating isn’t necessarily slow, but it is thoughtful

“I define it as a more thoughtful approach to dating,” Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod says. “We’ve noticed a trend towards helping people find more meaningful connections for some time now. We do this by designing profiles that show off what makes you, you. And we encourage you to put yourself out there, just a little, by liking a specific part of someone’s profile. It’s not only a natural way to start a conversation, but it helps cut through the small talk so you can get out on a date faster. It’s clear singles are craving [this] more thoughtful approach. In the last year, Hinge’s active member base has increased 400 percent.”