A couple of weeks ago, we threw a pretty straightforward question out there: How would you feel about a dedicated app?
Nearly 2,000 of you shot back, and hundreds left incredibly thoughtful essays in the comment box. And yes, we actually read every single one. If you took the time to tell us what you think, consider this post our way of saying: We hear you loud and clear.
What you told us
The headline is pretty glaring: most of you are down for it. More than three quarters of respondents gave us the green light, saying either "I'm in" or "I'll give it a spin."
But while the numbers were great, the comments section was where the real gold was. Over and over, you told us the exact same thing in a hundred different ways: Don't lose what makes DN, DN. You don't want another soul-sucking, generic hookup app. You don't want a wall of spammy ads or a mystery algorithm deciding who you're "allowed" to see today. You just want the place you already love, but made way easier to access from your phone.
That is our official design brief. Here is exactly how we're making it happen.
Your account, anywhere
Let's be clear: This will be a proper, built-from-scratch app — not just the website awkwardly squeezed onto a mobile screen. But it's the exact same account you already use. Your profile, your photos, and your connections all move with you. One login, whether you're on your desktop or your phone.
And for the many of you who have been part of this crew for a decade or two: don't panic. Nothing you've built here goes away. It all travels with you.
Built around how you actually connect
When we looked at the data to see which features you cared about most, one answer blew everything else out of the water: knowing who's nearby. So yes, the location grid is going to be core to the app.
But a mindless grid of faces on its own isn't our style. What's always set this community apart is that people here actually express themselves — you're open about who you are, what you're into, and what kind of mood you're in today. Because of that, the app is being built around three pillars working together:
- Status and moods: Let people know what you're up for right now, not just who you are on paper.
- A location grid: See who's around, exactly like you asked for.
- Interest matching: Connect over what you're actually into, so the app surfaces people you'd genuinely get along with — not just the closest warm body.
That's the secret sauce: It's not just about who's close, it's about who's close and on your exact wavelength.
Privacy first, and real humans only
Two massive concerns came up repeatedly in the feedback, and we've built the app specifically to tackle both.
Privacy: Your precise location is blurred before it ever even leaves your phone. People will see your general distance, but nobody is getting your coordinates. We're also baking in a "travel mode" and a "pause location" toggle for the days you just want to go off the grid.
Real people: We've all watched other platforms turn into absolute ghost towns of bots, fakes, and crypto-scammers. You told us plainly you don't want that garbage here. So, every single new member will have to pass a quick "reality check" before they can dive into the community. A little bit of friction up front keeps the neighbourhood worth living in.
Relax, the website isn't going anywhere
The app is an expansion pack, not a replacement. The DN you use today will carry on exactly as it is. Think of the app as simply putting a second front door on the same house. Use whichever one you prefer.
We're sharing this blueprint with you now, while the cement is still wet, on purpose. Your feedback has already made this project ten times better, and we'll keep pulling back the curtain as things take shape.
Genuinely, thank you for the surveys, the feedback, and for sticking with DN.