Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (2024)

Craigslist, a name synonymous with classified ads, was once a popular platform for personal ads and casual encounters. It’s true, we aren’t lying! And although Craigslist Dating might have worked once, it doesn’t anymore—because it no longer exists.

If you weren’t aware, the Craigslist personals section was shut down in 2018 due to lots–and we mean a whole lot–of issues, including smaller concerns about shady people to more serious things like sex and human trafficking and scams—and this closure marked the end of the platform’s role as a venue for dating and casual encounters.

But don’t worry, Craigslist as a whole continues to operate, providing classified ads for various other categories such as jobs, housing, and items for sale.

Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (1)

The Craigslist Dating Experience

According to New Idea, “Craigslist is a website where you can post and/or view classified ads, which can range from job postings, real estate, for sale items, services, gigs, local events, and more. It is reminiscent of newspaper classifieds, except people can search for specific ads that interest them quite easily.

“The site, established in the mid-90s, was one of the first sites dedicated to classified ads. At its peak, the site brought in millions of visitors every month and millions of dollars in revenue every year.

“Craigslist was so popular, it became a fixture in American and internet culture. Several TV shows, video games, and films feature the site, such as New Girl, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.”

Craigslist’s approach to dating was unique due to its simplicity and anonymity. Users just posted personal ads detailing what they were looking for, and responses would land in their inbox. While some found meaningful connections, others faced disappointment, mismatches, and safety concerns.

This one writer who posted on Craigslist told their dating story under a fake name–they’d write specific ads about their dream date and then have to sort through all of the gross come-ons or just plain bizarre responses.

Even with the letdowns and not getting the partner she hoped for, the experience was still good for her. She learned more about herself and what she really wants in a relationship. So that’s a plus! This is just one example of the ups and downs of Craigslist dating– some people connected, others didn’t match or faced serious safety issues, and, of course, the whole scary sex trafficking thing.

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The Pitfalls of Craigslist Dating

In general, Craigslist Dating was a place for people looking for casual stuff and hookups–it was easy to use anonymously, so it was popular for those who, for whatever reason, did not want to use a mainstream dating app.

But no photo verification and anonymity also led to uncomfortable situations and huge safety risks. Over time, it was associated with sex trafficking and scams, and they shut down the personals section in 2018.

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Craigslist Dating Alternative Platforms

After the shutdown of the personals section, users seeking dating or hookup opportunities had to turn to alternative dating apps—this change led to the rise of various other platforms specifically tailored for dating and casual encounters, as detailed below.

  • DoubleList: Used for casual dating, and is popular in the US, Australia, Canada, UK.
  • Adult Friend Finder: Used for hookups and members have simple profiles which get right to the point of what they are searching for.
  • BedPage: Mostly used for one-night stands and hookups.
  • Locanto Personals: Like Craigslist for casual encounters to post/respond to personal ads looking for dates.
  • Oodle Personals: Connects older and mature singles for both serious and casual relationships.

These platforms offer better features and security measures compared to what was available on Craigslist Dating personals, which had both success stories and cautionary tales when it comes to dating.

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Modern Dating Apps: A Better Alternative?

As digital dating has evolved, newer apps provide way more features and safety checks than the Craigslist personals section ever did.

Here is a quick rundown of some well-known ones:

  • Tinder: Famous for its iconic swipe feature and can be used for both casual and serious relationships.
  • Bumble: This female-first dating app lets women take charge of starting convos and is revered for this groundbreaking approach.
  • Hinge: It tries to focus more on substantial over superficial connections, but it is a mixed bag–you can find both on Hinge.
  • OkCupid: This platform has detailed profiles and match questions for better compatibility between its users.
  • eHarmony: Renowned for its in-depth personality test, sophisticated matching algorithms, and emphasis on forming serious relationships between members.

These mainstream and modern dating apps all have varying levels of security checks, detailed profiles, and much better matching methods, meaning they are all more trustworthy and effective choices compared to the now-defunct Craigslist Dating.

Takeaways

Although there were a few success stories from Craigslist’s short-lived dating section, the overall experience was extremely risky and lacked safety measures. The explosion of new platforms and dating apps showcases the advancements in online dating, providing safer and more efficient ways to connect with compatible romantic partners.

It is obvious that online dating has come a long way from the Craigslist era, with an abundance of alternatives readily accessible–literally at your fingertips.

Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (2024)

FAQs

Why did Craigslist get rid of dating? ›

Craigslist Shuts Down Personals Section After Congress Passes Bill On Trafficking : The Two-Way Craigslist says it made the change because of the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which is meant to crack down on sex trafficking of children. Free speech advocates are critical of FOSTA.

Is Craigslist good for dating? ›

Conclusion. While Craigslist might not be the first platform that comes to mind when you think about online dating, it certainly offers a unique way to meet women. With the right approach and safety measures, you can navigate your way to successful encounters.

Does anyone even use Craigslist anymore? ›

Do People Still Use Craigslist? Absolutely. You can search your local area on Craigslist and find used furniture, cars, rentals, and even jobs.

Why is Craigslist losing popularity? ›

In December 2022, Craigslist saw 191 million total monthly visits, down by around a third year-on-year, according to SimilarWeb. That's Craigslist's biggest one-year drop since 2017-2018, when the company's popular personal ads were dropped due to liability concerns related to prostitution and human trafficking.

Should you meet someone from craigslist at your house? ›

Always meet the seller in a public place and bring a friend with you, if possible. Never meet up in an isolated area. 3. If you meet someone at your home, never bring them into your home; instead conduct business in the driveway or inside an open garage.

Where is the safest place to meet for craigslist? ›

Specifically, he recommends meeting at a police or sheriff's station. “I would definitely say if you are meeting up with a seller I would do it in a public place where there is a lot of people, ideally at a sheriff's station [or] a police station. They are everywhere [and] they are local,” Morales said.

What should I be careful of on craigslist? ›

There are some common Craigslist scams that you can spot quickly and avoid once you are familiar with how they work.
  • Middleman scam. It's a common scam in the rental industry. ...
  • Escrow fraud. ...
  • Job scams. ...
  • Email recovery scams. ...
  • Buyer scams. ...
  • Seller scams.
Jan 10, 2024

Why would a Craigslist ad be removed? ›

If you keep on using the same title and description over and over again, then your Craigslist post may be flagged for removal since your listing may appear “spammy.”

Why is Craigslist being blocked? ›

Thousands of people get Craigslist IP blocked every day. This can happen because they try to post too many Craigslist ads or post them for another city or region.

Is Craigslist declining? ›

Craigslist's traffic is also falling steadily. In 2019, it was as high as 437 million monthly visits, according to Similarweb; in January this year it was just 173 million. Still impressive, but down more than 60%. Even so, it's the leader in both revenue and traffic, ahead of Mercari and OfferUp.

What is a Tinder account? ›

Log in . Tinder is an online dating app famous for its swipe and match feature that offers paid subscriptions. To sign up for Tinder, you'll need to download the app and provide basic information like your age, location, gender, and gender preferences.

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