A new dating app promises to match its users by things they hate rather than what they like.
Developers behind app Hater, which launched on Wednesday, argue people are brought closer by grumbling and moaning than by discussing their favourite hobbies.
Founded by Brendan Alper, 29, a former Goldman Sachs employee, the app turns on its head the idea behind other dating services such as MatchAffinity, which bring people together based on what they like to do in life.
Users of the app are instead asked for a critical appraisal of a range of subjects from “hangovers” and “the rent being too high” to “Donald Trump”.
They can then swipe through their prospective dates, much like dating app Tinder, to see if their dislikes match.
Recent academic studies back Mr Alper’s conviction that people bond more quickly when they discover a shared dislike for a third party.
But developers also stress the app is meant for bugbears and petty hates rather really nasty hating.
Mr Alper told The Times: “Dating is supposed to be fun. Somewhere along the line, dating apps lost sight of that. Hater wants to bring it back."
