Breakups, especially being the one who gets dumped, can leave people emotionally shattered and unsure about how to reconnect romantically. While existing dating apps offer plenty of matches, they ignore the specific emotional needs of someone fresh out of a relationship. What’s missing is a platform that helps people find new connections while acknowledging their vulnerable state—perhaps by tapping into the familiar comfort of what they already find attractive.

A Dating App That Bridges Familiarity and Healing

One way to address this could be through a dating app that matches people who physically resemble users’ ex-partners. The idea stems from the observation that people often have recurring preferences in partners. After uploading photos of their ex, users would receive matches with similar facial features, creating a sense of familiarity during an otherwise unstable phase. To support emotional recovery, the app could include:

• Breakup-specific conversation prompts ("What did you learn from your last relationship?")
• Optional counseling resources or therapist partnerships
• A "healing progress" tracker that gradually shifts suggestions toward new relationship goals

Balancing Comfort and Ethical Concerns

The main challenge lies in ensuring this doesn’t trap users in the past. For instance, features could encourage deleting the ex’s photo after a set period or blending in non-resembling matches as recovery progresses. Privacy is another concern—photo uploads would need strict verification, like requiring images where the user appears alongside their ex to confirm consent. Revenue could come from targeted advertising (self-care brands) or premium features, such as deeper compatibility insights.

How It Stacks Up Against Existing Options

Unlike generic swiping apps, this concept targets post-breakup emotions directly. It’s not therapy (like Breakup Buddy) nor a free-for-all dating pool (like Tinder/Bumble), but a middle ground that uses algorithmic matching to ease the transition. An MVP might start with basic facial recognition and ex-photo matching, then expand with community features or expert partnerships if initial testing validates the approach.

The idea is provocative but speaks to a real emotional need—if executed thoughtfully, it could help people rediscover dating without dismissing where they’ve been.