When NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office this week, the conversation centered on what matters most to New Yorkers: affordability. Lower food costs. Lower housing costs. A safer city.

It’s exactly what politicians should be talking about. New York City has become prohibitively expensive for the people who actually live here, and any meaningful conversation about making the city livable again deserves attention.

But there’s one massive demographic that continues to get ignored in these affordability discussions: singles.

Winter first dates in NYC offer unique advantages over other seasons. The cold weather creates natural closeness, holiday decorations add magic, and cozy indoor venues encourage extended conversation. From iconic ice skating at Rockefeller Center to intimate cocktails at hidden speakeasies, NYC’s winter dating scene thrives on variety and romance.

The best winter first dates combine outdoor adventure (ice skating, holiday markets, winter walks) with indoor warmth (cozy restaurants, cocktail lounges, museums). This contrast creates shared experiences ; braving cold together, then warming up over drinks while discussing the adventure.

Forget ghosting. Move over, breadcrumbing. Gaslighting is so last season. According to matchmaker Nick Rosen, who has interviewed thousands of singles nationwide and internationally, there’s a new red flag that’s creating unprecedented consensus in the dating world: being mentioned in the Epstein files.

“I’ve been in this business for years, and I’ve never seen such unanimous agreement on a deal-breaker,” says Rosen, founder of Met By Nick and co-founder of QUALITY matchmaking. “This is joining the ranks of traditional red flags, but honestly, it might be surpassing them.”

I’m writing to express my deep gratitude to Tucker Carlson for having me on his show to discuss matchmaking and the current state of dating in America. Though I must clarify for the major news outlets who seem to have their spell-check on the fritz: my name is Nick Rosen — R-O-S-E-N — not Fuentes. I’m the matchmaker who says kind things about people, not that other, younger internet personality known for, shall we say, a different approach to discourse.

Nikola Jokić is appointment television. He’s worth staying up past 1 a.m. for. He’s worth waking up at 3 a.m. for. Because what we’re witnessing right now; this sustained excellence, this artistic expression disguised as a game, is historic.

Thank you, Nikola Jokić, for being normal. For being down to earth. For proving that greatness doesn’t require a brand, a persona, or a social media following. Just talent, work ethic, and an almost supernatural understanding of the game.

The level of ignorance and lack of self-awareness in modern dating is absolutely mind-boggling. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the pathetic, irritating chorus of single people complaining about the opposite sex.

You know what’s exhausting? Listening to grown adults rant about how terrible women are. You know what’s equally annoying? Hearing women trash all men as if half the population is fundamentally broken.

It’s pathetic. It’s embarrassing. And it’s a massive advertisement for exactly why these people are still single.

My twin sister Natalie just brought the most handsome little guy into this world in San Francisco, and I couldn't be more proud of her. Watching her hold her son for the first time filled me with so much joy; emotions I knew I had, but experiencing them in that moment was something else entirely.

When you work as a professional matchmaker, you don’t get the luxury of viewing modern dating through rose-colored glasses. You’re in the trenches, hearing the raw truth about what people are experiencing out there. And honestly? It can be soul-crushing.

I hear it all. The frustration that bleeds through every conversation. The loneliness that people carry like a weight they’ve forgotten how to put down. The isolation of swiping through hundreds of faces and still feeling invisible. The exhaustion of not being heard, of shouting into the void of dating apps and getting only sile

We’re supposed to be living in the age of sex positivity. An era where exploration is celebrated, where vanilla is passé, where dating apps have democratized access to potential partners. Yet intimacy rates are plummeting. Sex is dwindling. And a third of Americans now report having romantic relationships with AI instead of other humans.

Let me say that again: one in three Americans have had a romantic relationship with artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, dating app profiles increasingly read like corporate job listings; exhaustive checklists of requirements, disclaimers, and dealbreakers that would make any HR department proud. We have hyper-labeled every aspect of human sexual connection to the point where it creates more barriers than bridges. We’re more sexually frustrated and repressed than generations who lived under far more conservative social values.

What young men need now isn’t another prescription, whether it’s “be this kind of man” or “maybe you’re not a man.” They need permission to figure out who they are without a political movement breathing down their necks. They need to see models of masculinity that include emotional intelligence, vulnerability, integrity, and care for others.

They need the same thing young women need, the same thing all young people need: to be taught respect for themselves and others, curiosity about the world and different perspectives, and kindness as a baseline for how we treat each other.

In the fast-moving world of modern romance, we’re witnessing something remarkable: a cultural revolution that’s slowly but surely changing how people approach finding love. As matchmakers across the industry work tirelessly to shift perceptions, a critical question emerges: How long does it actually take for society to embrace a fundamentally different approach to dating?

If you’re a successful, intelligent man who’s struggling with modern dating, you’re part of a much larger trend and more importantly, there are proven solutions. While 63% of young men under 30 are currently single compared to just 34% of women, this disparity represents both a challenge and an opportunity for men who are ready to approach dating strategically.

As a male matchmaker who has navigated these waters firsthand, I’ve helped hundreds of quality men, both straight and gay, break through the barriers that keep them single. This isn’t about what’s wrong with you; it’s about understanding the systems that aren’t serving men well and implementing strategies that actually work.

Finding the perfect first date spot in Austin can make or break that crucial initial impression. As a city known for its vibrant culture, diverse dining scene, and endless entertainment options, Austin offers countless opportunities to create memorable first date experiences. Whether you’re meeting someone from a dating app or going out with a longtime friend, choosing the right venue sets the tone for potential romance.

In our understanding of radicalization, we typically envision the disenfranchised: young men without prospects, isolated individuals with nothing to lose, people pushed to society’s margins. But a new and more unsettling phenomenon is emerging; the radicalization of the comfortable, the successful, the seemingly well-adjusted members of society who have everything to lose and are losing it anyway to the toxic pull of social media algorithms.

We face a crisis in American romantic culture. Despite having more ways to connect than ever before, loneliness rates continue to climb, marriage rates decline, and relationship satisfaction plummets. The current system isn’t just failing; it’s actively working against our best interests.

The solution isn’t better apps or more sophisticated algorithms. It’s recognizing that finding a life partner is too important to leave to chance, too complex for artificial intelligence, and too valuable to entrust to platforms whose primary goal is keeping you single and paying.

Your love life is more important than your career, your investments, or any other major life decision. If you wouldn’t hire a CEO by randomly swiping through LinkedIn profiles, why would you choose a life partner that way?

We’re living through a dystopian transformation of human connection, one where the search for love has been weaponized against our own wellbeing. Dating apps haven’t just changed how we meet people; they’ve fundamentally altered our relationship with romance itself, turning what should be one of life’s most meaningful experiences into a compulsive, profit-driven game.

The evidence is overwhelming: dating app companies are predatory by design, employing the same psychological manipulation tactics used by casinos and social media platforms to create addiction. Their primary motivation isn’t your happiness or relationship success; it’s keeping you hooked, paying, and perpetually searching.

We are a matchmaking company with a purpose that transcends the transactional. While we’re here to help you find love, we’re equally committed to helping you feel more connected in a world that’s becoming ever more isolated.

In an age where technology promises connection but often delivers isolation, where we have more ways to communicate but less meaningful conversation, Met By Nick & QUALITY stands as a reminder that genuine human connection is not just possible, it’s essential.

You matter. Your story matters. Your desire for connection is valid and human and beautiful.

You’re not alone in this journey. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.

San Francisco dating in 2025 offers unique opportunities for singles seeking meaningful connections. With over 870,000 residents and a median age of 38, the Bay Area attracts educated professionals from around the globe. However, dating in San Francisco requires understanding the city’s distinct culture, from tech industry dynamics to neighborhood personalities.

As a professional matchmaker who helps San Francisco singles find lasting relationships, I’ve witnessed how the right approach can transform your dating experience in this incredible city.

The evidence keeps mounting, and the pattern is undeniable: dating apps simply cannot be trusted with your most intimate information. A comprehensive cybersecurity study by the Business Digital Index has delivered another devastating blow to an industry already reeling from regulatory fines and public scandals. The results? 75% of major dating apps received grades of D or F for cybersecurity.

This isn’t just another tech story, it’s the latest proof that the digital dating industrial complex treats your privacy as collateral damage in their pursuit of profit.