In conversation with Editor Ankur Sharma, The News Strike, Ravi Mittal, Founder & CEO of QuackQuack, says modern dating app behavior has evolved toward greater emotional honesty, with users—especially Gen Z—becoming more comfortable discussing boundaries, mental health, emotional baggage, and vulnerability much earlier in conversations. He notes that the fading stigma around openness is making transparency a defining part of today’s dating culture. Mittal adds that QuackQuack’s Guardian AI acts as more than a safety tool by creating a trusted environment where users feel secure enough to open up faster and build authentic connections.
1. How has user behaviour on dating apps changed in terms of emotional openness and vulnerability?
A- There's a clear shift toward honesty; modern daters feel much more comfortable being open about their vulnerabilities. We are also noting that young users, especially GenZ, are prioritizing clarity early on. They discuss boundaries, mental health issues, emotional baggage, and emotional availability, all as early as the first week of chatting. There was a stigma around showing vulnerability while dating, especially in the early stages of it, but now that's fading too. Daters no longer play cool. They are more invested in being their real selves. We are not saying they overshare, but they don't hide things either. Transparency is a big part of today's dating culture.
2. How does Guardian AI help create a safer space for users to open up faster?
A- The biggest threat to vulnerability and emotional openness is uncertainty. Guardian AI removes that uncertainty. Once users feel confident that all profiles are properly vetted, not just by trained humans but also by artificial intelligence, they tend to be more free and honest in their approach. Plus, since the feature constantly monitors harmful behavior, users feel secure to engage genuinely, without walls.
It's a hybrid system that flags suspicious activities early, so the chances of negative experiences are significantly reduced. Once dating without worrying about safety becomes the norm, people can focus completely on building connections instead of holding themselves back for safety concerns.
3. Are safety features now becoming an emotional enabler rather than just a protective tool?
A- Safety features were never supposed to be just about users' security; when users feel safe and trust the platform, it automatically leads to a better emotional experience. Features like Guardian AI help build this trust between the app and its users. It creates a sort of psychological safety net, where people believe that someone has their backs; they feel seen and supported. Safety features, though they function in the backend, directly influence how openly and genuinely people interact.
4. What role does AI + human moderation play in reducing fake profiles, scams, and inappropriate behaviour?
A- The hybrid system is all about the perfect blend of speed and judgment. The nuance that human judgment brings, AI can't; similarly, AI's scale is much larger than any man's. Together, they make a powerful tool; AI can instantly scan profiles, while the human moderation brings in fairness and makes context-aware decisions. This dual approach ensures that it's not just reacting to existing issues, but also proactively preventing them before they can affect the users.
5. Have you seen stronger boundary-setting among women and young users because of these safety layers?
A- Yes, definitely. In one of our surveys, 6 in 10 female users from Tier 1 and 2 cities shared that they are more upfront about boundaries with their online matches, without fearing backlash. Why? Because they know that the platform has layers of safety to ensure that users are not mistreated by their matches, and in the case it does happen, strict actions are immediately taken. When genuine users understand that actions have consequences, they feel much more confident in vocalizing their desires. Guardian AI ensures that mutual respect and comfort are non-negotiables in every match. This helps users focus more on prioritizing their well-being by setting boundaries, which ultimately leads to healthier relationships.
6. How is this shift changing the overall culture of online dating in India?
A- If you look at online dating today, it's so much more intentional than it was a decade back. It's no longer about casual flings; people want real, mindful, and sustainable connections. There's a huge emphasis on emotional compatibility and safety. Users are not doomscrolling. We see people seeking meaningful interactions, even if they don't last, they want something that adds to their experience. With a strong safety framework, dating apps have become more user-friendly, especially for beginners. The development of features like Guardian AI has made the dating process more intentional than risky or shallow.
7. What are the biggest trust challenges dating platforms still face today?
A- We, as a dating app, are constantly working on upgrading our security systems; today, we have an AI plus Human model safety tool, tomorrow we might or definitely will have something even more sophisticated. But despite our best efforts, romance, love, and dating, these things always come with certain challenges. Fake profiles and scams have evolved; they are harder to track. That's where our AI+Human dual safety system comes in handy. Tools like these significantly reduce the trust challenges, but it's a continuous effort, and we have to constantly keep up with the new patterns.
8. How do you see AI-led safety features evolving in the future of digital relationships?
A- We see AI-led safety features becoming the new normal. It will make safety more predictive and personalized. We will surely see smarter tools that are more preventive, something that can anticipate the risk pattern and intervene before it can even strike. A rise in emotional intelligence of AI is also expected, and combined with human oversight, dating platforms and their safety tools can adapt to individual user needs, hopefully someday soon.
