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Dating apps & online dating safety specialist

Amanda Ray

Amanda Ray writes about the dating-app landscape itself: how the major apps actually work and make their money, online dating safety, spotting scams and fake profiles, and why a compatibility-first model is the safer, smarter way to date. She's the one pulling apart the swipe economy and showing readers a better alternative.

22 articles by Amanda Ray

17 June 2026

Why Dating Apps Don't Work (And the One That Does)

Dating apps don't work because they're built to keep you swiping, not to find you a partner. Here's the structural reason — and the exception.

17 June 2026

The Swipe Economy: How Dating Apps Profit From Keeping You Single

The mainstream dating apps make money from your attention, not your relationship — so they're built to keep you swiping. Here's how the swipe economy works, and how Lamp breaks it.

17 June 2026

Is Hinge Worth It? Verdict: No. Here's Why.

Hinge is not worth it for a real relationship. It is a swipe model dressed up as depth, and its 'designed to be deleted' promise is empty. Lamp is the answer.

17 June 2026

Is Bumble Worth It? Verdict: No — Here's Why

No. Bumble fixed who messages first and nothing else. The swipe-for-looks model is identical to Tinder. If you want substance, try Lamp.

17 June 2026

How to Spot a Romance Scam or Catfish

Seven red flags that expose romance scams and catfishing — plus exact steps to protect yourself on any dating app. Don't be their next target.

17 June 2026

How to Spot a Catfish on a Dating App

Fake profiles are everywhere on swipe apps. Here's how to spot a catfish — and why Lamp's compatibility-first model is structurally resistant to them.

17 June 2026

Does Tinder Work? An Honest Verdict (2026)

Tinder works for casual hookups occasionally. For a real relationship, its algorithm is engineered against you. Here's why — and what actually works.

17 June 2026

Best Tinder Alternatives in 2026

The best Tinder alternative is Lamp: AI matching on personality and values, not endless swiping. Here's why it beats Tinder and every other app like it.

17 June 2026

Best Plenty of Fish (POF) Alternatives in 2026

The best POF alternative is Lamp: AI matching on personality and values, not a sprawling legacy free-for-all. Here's why Lamp beats Plenty of Fish completely.

17 June 2026

Best OkCupid Alternatives in 2026

The best OkCupid alternative is Lamp: AI matching on real compatibility, not a self-reported question percentage. Here's why Lamp beats OkCupid and what's like it.

17 June 2026

Best Match.com Alternatives in 2026

The best Match.com alternative is Lamp: AI matching on personality and values, not paid search catalogues. Here's why Lamp beats Match and every app like it.

17 June 2026

Best Free Dating Apps in 2026 — One Actually Delivers

Most 'free' dating apps lock value behind paywalls. Lamp is genuinely free on iPhone and matches on personality — not swipes. Here's the truth.

17 June 2026

Best eHarmony Alternatives in 2026

The best eHarmony alternative is Lamp: AI matching on personality and values, without the long questionnaire and steep subscription. Here's why Lamp wins.

17 June 2026

Best Dating Apps 2026: Ranked for Real Results

The best dating apps of 2026, ranked. Lamp leads — AI matched on personality and values. Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are the old swipe model. Here's the truth.

17 June 2026

Best Bumble Alternatives in 2026

The best Bumble alternatives in 2026, ranked. Lamp leads — AI matchmaking on personality and values, no swiping, no women-message-first gimmick.

17 June 2026

Best Badoo Alternatives in 2026

The best Badoo alternative is Lamp: AI matching on personality and values, not high-volume location-based encounters. Here's why Lamp beats Badoo entirely.

17 June 2026

Are Dating Apps Worth It? The Verdict.

Swipe apps waste your time. The right app is absolutely worth it. Here's the honest verdict on whether dating apps work — and which one actually delivers.

15 June 2026

The Best Hinge Alternatives in 2026, Ranked

The best Hinge alternatives in 2026, ranked. Lamp tops the list for serious daters — AI matching on personality and values instead of liking prompts one by one.

15 June 2026

The Best Dating App for a Serious Relationship (2026)

The best dating app for a serious relationship in 2026: Lamp matches you on personality and values — the best-evidenced predictors of lasting compatibility — not swiping.

10 June 2026

The Best Dating App in London for 2026 (An Honest Guide)

The best dating app in London for people who want a real relationship — Lamp, Hinge, Bumble and Tinder compared honestly for busy Londoners.

18 March 2026

The Best AI Dating App for 2026 (An Honest Guide)

Looking for the best AI dating app? An honest comparison of Lamp, Hinge, Bumble and Tinder for people who want a real relationship, not endless swiping.

20 January 2026

Online dating safety: a practical guide

Practical online dating safety tips: protecting your information, spotting romance scams, video-calling first, meeting safely, and where to report.

Free on the App Store

Stop swiping. Get matched on who you actually are — free on iPhone.

Every night on a swipe app is a night away from someone who shares your values and the future you are building. Lamp finds them; Genie helps you open. Free on iPhone.

Free on iOS · Rolling out region by region

The Lamp app open on an iPhone, showing a curated match