Most dating apps focus on matching people based on shared interests, but shared dislikes can be just as powerful—if not more so—in creating meaningful connections. For example, bonding over a mutual dislike of a popular movie or music genre can foster camaraderie. Currently, no major dating platform leverages this dynamic, leaving a gap for users who value shared negative opinions as much as shared positive ones.

How It Could Work

One approach could be to build a dating app where users list media they dislike—movies, books, TV shows, or music—and get matched with others who share those dislikes. The app could function similarly to existing platforms but with a few key twists:

• Dislike-based matching: The algorithm would prioritize users with overlapping dislikes, creating connections rooted in shared criticism or taste.
• Optional explanations: Users could add notes explaining why they dislike something, adding depth to matches.
• Icebreakers: Pre-written prompts like "Tell me why you hated [shared disliked movie]" could spark conversations.

Why It Might Stand Out

Unlike general dating apps that mix likes and dislikes, this concept would make dislikes the core matching mechanism. This could appeal to:

• People with niche tastes who feel out of sync with mainstream preferences.
• Those tired of superficial like-based matching and seeking deeper connections.
• Media-savvy users who enjoy debating or critiquing art and entertainment.

Existing apps like Hater (now defunct) explored dislike-based matching but weren’t media-specific. By narrowing the focus, this idea could create more targeted and engaging matches.

Potential Next Steps

An MVP could start with a single media category (e.g., movies) and basic matching functionality. Early testing might involve surveys to gauge comfort levels with public dislike-sharing or A/B tests comparing engagement between like-based and dislike-based matching. To address concerns about negativity, community guidelines and moderation tools could be built in from the start.

While the idea is unconventional, it taps into the real-world experience of bonding over shared pet peeves—something current dating apps largely ignore.