Inside a network of Facebook groups helping US millennials fall in love

Philadelphia has the largest proportion of unmarried people of any major US city, adding to the dread of dating in an era of paywalled dating apps, fake profiles, and post-pandemic loneliness that has made it hard to imagine a meet-cute. — Dreamstime/TNS

PHILADELPHIA: Nicole Kerr competed with 134 other women to get the attention of her now-fiancé Fran Smythe, a Deptford, New Jersey, finance manager looking for a “fun down-to-earth girl” to settle down with.

That’s because Smythe’s sister-in-law posted his photos to Date Him: Philly, a private Facebook group with over 20,000 members where women vouch for their guy friends. Dozens left comments or sent DMs about Smythe – except for Kerr, who only liked the photo because of his big smile and hobbies (skiing and coaching high school wrestling).