Finding love online proves extremely difficult. Many people feel frustrated with dating apps. Writer Matt Bell chose to try something different.

Dating apps have serious problems. Some men post photos with babies who aren't theirs. Others remain unclear about what they want. Ryan, 37, still hasn't figured out his dating goals. Many men also obsess over their height.

Gay men face even more specific challenges. A new app called Sniffies has become popular. It works like Grindr, but differently. On Sniffies, men don't show their faces. This feels anonymous but sometimes unsafe.

Matt Bell wanted to meet someone another way. He decided to try real hobbies in person. He attempted 47 different hobbies altogether. He hoped to find a partner offline.

Running was one hobby he tried. Matt joined a marathon and ran 28 kilometres. Then he realised something important. He actually dislikes running completely. Still, he continued trying other activities.

Meeting people through hobbies seems better overall. You share genuine interests with someone. You see their true face and personality. There's no fake profile hiding behind.

Gay men often face unique dating challenges. LGBTQ+ spaces remain quite limited sometimes. Smaller cities offer fewer meeting places for people. Apps became essential for this reason.

But apps also create fresh problems. People feel lonely despite messaging many others. Online connections often feel shallow and false. Many gay men crave something more genuine.

Matt's experiment suggests one possible solution. Try new activities and go to new places. Meet people face-to-face instead. It takes more courage than phone swiping. But results feel far more meaningful.

You may do things you regret while seeking love. Matt ran a marathon he didn't enjoy. Yet he learned something valuable about himself. Perhaps that matters when finding the right person.

The search for love remains never truly simple. But stepping away from screens helps significantly.