Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (2024)

Craigslist, a name synonymous with classified ads, was once a popular platform for personal ads and casual encounters. It’s true, we aren’t lying! And although Craigslist Dating might have worked once, it doesn’t anymore—because it no longer exists.

If you weren’t aware, the Craigslist personals section was shut down in 2018 due to lots–and we mean a whole lot–of issues, including smaller concerns about shady people to more serious things like sex and human trafficking and scams—and this closure marked the end of the platform’s role as a venue for dating and casual encounters.

But don’t worry, Craigslist as a whole continues to operate, providing classified ads for various other categories such as jobs, housing, and items for sale.

Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (1)

The Craigslist Dating Experience

According to New Idea, “Craigslist is a website where you can post and/or view classified ads, which can range from job postings, real estate, for sale items, services, gigs, local events, and more. It is reminiscent of newspaper classifieds, except people can search for specific ads that interest them quite easily.

“The site, established in the mid-90s, was one of the first sites dedicated to classified ads. At its peak, the site brought in millions of visitors every month and millions of dollars in revenue every year.

“Craigslist was so popular, it became a fixture in American and internet culture. Several TV shows, video games, and films feature the site, such as New Girl, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.”

Craigslist’s approach to dating was unique due to its simplicity and anonymity. Users just posted personal ads detailing what they were looking for, and responses would land in their inbox. While some found meaningful connections, others faced disappointment, mismatches, and safety concerns.

This one writer who posted on Craigslist told their dating story under a fake name–they’d write specific ads about their dream date and then have to sort through all of the gross come-ons or just plain bizarre responses.

Even with the letdowns and not getting the partner she hoped for, the experience was still good for her. She learned more about herself and what she really wants in a relationship. So that’s a plus! This is just one example of the ups and downs of Craigslist dating– some people connected, others didn’t match or faced serious safety issues, and, of course, the whole scary sex trafficking thing.

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The Pitfalls of Craigslist Dating

In general, Craigslist Dating was a place for people looking for casual stuff and hookups–it was easy to use anonymously, so it was popular for those who, for whatever reason, did not want to use a mainstream dating app.

But no photo verification and anonymity also led to uncomfortable situations and huge safety risks. Over time, it was associated with sex trafficking and scams, and they shut down the personals section in 2018.

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Craigslist Dating Alternative Platforms

After the shutdown of the personals section, users seeking dating or hookup opportunities had to turn to alternative dating apps—this change led to the rise of various other platforms specifically tailored for dating and casual encounters, as detailed below.

  • DoubleList: Used for casual dating, and is popular in the US, Australia, Canada, UK.
  • Adult Friend Finder: Used for hookups and members have simple profiles which get right to the point of what they are searching for.
  • BedPage: Mostly used for one-night stands and hookups.
  • Locanto Personals: Like Craigslist for casual encounters to post/respond to personal ads looking for dates.
  • Oodle Personals: Connects older and mature singles for both serious and casual relationships.

These platforms offer better features and security measures compared to what was available on Craigslist Dating personals, which had both success stories and cautionary tales when it comes to dating.

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Modern Dating Apps: A Better Alternative?

As digital dating has evolved, newer apps provide way more features and safety checks than the Craigslist personals section ever did.

Here is a quick rundown of some well-known ones:

  • Tinder: Famous for its iconic swipe feature and can be used for both casual and serious relationships.
  • Bumble: This female-first dating app lets women take charge of starting convos and is revered for this groundbreaking approach.
  • Hinge: It tries to focus more on substantial over superficial connections, but it is a mixed bag–you can find both on Hinge.
  • OkCupid: This platform has detailed profiles and match questions for better compatibility between its users.
  • eHarmony: Renowned for its in-depth personality test, sophisticated matching algorithms, and emphasis on forming serious relationships between members.

These mainstream and modern dating apps all have varying levels of security checks, detailed profiles, and much better matching methods, meaning they are all more trustworthy and effective choices compared to the now-defunct Craigslist Dating.

Takeaways

Although there were a few success stories from Craigslist’s short-lived dating section, the overall experience was extremely risky and lacked safety measures. The explosion of new platforms and dating apps showcases the advancements in online dating, providing safer and more efficient ways to connect with compatible romantic partners.

It is obvious that online dating has come a long way from the Craigslist era, with an abundance of alternatives readily accessible–literally at your fingertips.

Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? (2024)

FAQs

Craigslist Dating | Is It Still Really a Thing or Not? ›

You can still find furniture or a roommate on Craigslist. But ads seeking romance or sexual connections are no longer going to be available, after Craigslist took down the "personals" section Friday for its U.S. site.

Does anyone even use Craigslist anymore? ›

Do People Still Use Craigslist? Absolutely. You can search your local area on Craigslist and find used furniture, cars, rentals, and even jobs.

What is the point of Craigslist? ›

craigslist is about:

providing an alternative to impersonal, big-media sites. being inclusive, giving a voice to the disenfranchised, democratizing ... being a collection of communities with similar spirit, not a single monolithic entity.

Is Craigslist only in America? ›

It started expanding to other U.S. and Canadian cities in 2000 and now covers 70 countries.

What does everyone use instead of Craigslist? ›

1. Facebook Marketplace. Overview: Launched in 2016, Facebook Marketplace has emerged as one of the largest online classified advertising platforms. As of 2022, it has over 1 billion users worldwide.

Why is Craigslist losing popularity? ›

In December 2022, Craigslist saw 191 million total monthly visits, down by around a third year-on-year, according to SimilarWeb. That's Craigslist's biggest one-year drop since 2017-2018, when the company's popular personal ads were dropped due to liability concerns related to prostitution and human trafficking.

Do people still use Craigslist in 2024? ›

Yes, craigslist.com is a legitimate website that is well known and used by millions of people each year. Each individual post does not get vetted before going live, so many posts on the website are not legitimate and require additional caution. What if you see a job listing and know it's a scam?

What should I be careful of on Craigslist? ›

There are some common Craigslist scams that you can spot quickly and avoid once you are familiar with how they work.
  • Middleman scam. It's a common scam in the rental industry. ...
  • Escrow fraud. ...
  • Job scams. ...
  • Email recovery scams. ...
  • Buyer scams. ...
  • Seller scams.
Jan 10, 2024

Where is the safest place to meet for Craigslist? ›

Meet in public and bring a friend

If meeting with a Craigslist contact to buy or sell a small item, take along a buddy and meet in a public place. Where should you meet for a Craigslist transaction? Coffee shops, shopping centers or even the parking lot of the local police station are all possibilities.

Is Craigslist cash only? ›

Accept or pay only with cash. If you accept a cashier's check or money order, you may fall victim to a common Craigslist scam that involves depositing a fake money order into your account and leaving you with nothing in the transaction.

Why is Craigslist so shady? ›

Anyone can list an item or service on Craigslist, which can make you more vulnerable to potential scams. Ultimately, if a listed item seems too good to be true… then it probably is.

What is better, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist? ›

Unlike Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist functions with more anonymity. The seller chooses how much information to include, so a buyer may know very little about the person or business behind the product. This lack of transparency has inspired more local marketplace competition.

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