How to use Instagram to get lucky
Demi Lovato
Move over   Tinder and Match . Millennials are hooking up and even finding love on Instagram . “ It ’ s changed the way people communicate  ” says Mary Beth Barone   a 26 - year - old comedian based in the East Village   who says men often message her on the photo - sharing network . “ There ’ s so much more access — you can see people ’ s lives so you automatically have something to talk about with them .” Here   six ways 20 - and 30 - somethings are getting Insta - mate . The thirst trap A post shared by Sabrina Zohar (@ sabrina . zohar ) on Feb 6   2018 at 5 : 42am PST Last week    singer Demi Lovato  was called out for trying to trap  her  prey   actor Henry Cavill   when  she  uploaded a sexy snap of  herself  in lingerie shortly after following Cavill ’ s account . Sabrina Zohar   who is 27 and the founder of clothing company Softwear   regularly posts photos of  herself  clad in lingerie   lounging around  her  swanky Williamsburg apartment . Male followers flood  her  with flirtatious comments   and that ’ s precisely one of  her  intentions with  her  “ thirst traps ” — pics meant to catch a love interest ’ s eye . But there ’ s more to Instagram flirting than just scantily clad pics . Zohar adds an “ authentic ” caption about self - love and empowerment to let  her  audience know she ’ s genuine .  She  recently uploaded a black - and - white photo of  herself  in a bodysuit   pantless   lying down on a shaggy rug with the caption : “ Love yourself first   the rest will fall into place .” Zohar   who ’ s single and has met a handful of first dates on Instagram   says such messages help  her  find the sort of men  she  ’ s looking for . “ If I wanna look for a mate that ’ s a bit more authentic   more real   more in touch with themselves   [ the captions ] will resonate with them so that they understand me more than   ‘ She ’ s a sexy girl just posting a lingerie photo .’ There ’ s more depth to it .” Baiting with a cute animal A post shared by Danny Visconti (@ dannyveee ) on Jan 2   2018 at 10 : 08am PST You don ’ t need to be perfectly ripped to get someone ’ s attention . Danny Visconti   a 32 - year - old television producer in the West Village   says the most alluring feature on his Instagram feed is his 11 - month - old rescue Lab mix   Clint . “ I ’ ll usually get a lot of responses just being like   ‘ Oh   my God   he ’ s so cute  ” says Visconti   who ’ s currently single but has been on a handful of dates with men he met on Instagram . “[ I ’ ll say  ] ‘ Oh   you know you can come meet him anytime you like .’ And then a handful of times they do .” The deep like Going into the archives of someone ’ s profile and liking a weeks - old or months - old photo is a bold way to express romantic interest . “ This is the Instagram flirting equivalent of making a mixtape for your crush  ” says Drew Wyman   a 29 - year - old entrepreneur who met his girlfriend on the social network . “ It ’ s obvious .” Sliding into the DMs Sending a flirty message to someone ’ s Instagram inbox has become a go - to move for many . ‘ Guys tend to be courageous about what they say ’ Dara Pollak   a food blogger whose @ skinnypignyc account has 84   000 followers   says she ’ s been flooded with direct messages from men in response to her photos of decadent burgers and cheesy pastas . “ Guys tend to be courageous about what they say  ” says Pollak   who notes that the best way to stand out is by being honest and straightforward while providing background on yourself . For example   a guy recently messaged her : “ I refuse to believe you eat all this and look as good as you do … but if you ever want to prove it   I ’ ll buy . Here ’ s my number .” Pollak was charmed   but says she ’ s currently not looking to meet anyone online . Stand out with a ‘ Story ’ Zohar says that uploading Instagram Stories — temporary posts of videos or multiple photos that expire after 24 hours — can more effectively grab someone ’ s attention than a permanent post . “ It ’ s because of the algorithm  ” Zohar says . “ Not everybody sees my [ permanent ] posts   but with the live videos [ it ’ s more certain ] somebody will see it .” Every time she uploads a Story of herself in her underwear   Zohar receives anywhere from “ 10 to 15 ” direct messages . Zohar says : “ It ’ s because people perceive I ’ m active [ online ] when I put a Story up .” Tag your way to the ‘ Explore ’ tab Instagram ’ s “ Explore ” tab   which shows a grid of photos from other strangers based on your network and interests   is also a meet market   according to kickboxing instructor Suki Komonaj   28 . She went on a date with a guy she found on the Explore page because he had similar interests in fitness and had some attractive workout pics . “ I ’ m always on that page  ” says Komonaj   who ’ s based in The Bronx and is currently single . To attract fitness - minded guys to her page   she uses hashtags such as # fit   # boxing and # fitthick to get on like - minded ( and like - bodied ) men ’ s Explore tabs . “ I wanna target somebody who likes to be in the gym like me   owning a business and such  ” Komonaj says .
Move over   Tinder and Match . Millennials are hooking up and even finding love on Instagram . “ It ’ s changed the way people communicate  ” says Mary Beth Barone   a 26 - year - old comedian based in the East Village   who says men often message her on the photo - sharing network . “ There ’ s so much more access — you can see people ’ s lives so you automatically have something to talk about with them .” Here   six ways 20 - and 30 - somethings are getting Insta - mate . The thirst trap A post shared by Sabrina Zohar (@ sabrina . zohar ) on Feb 6   2018 at 5 : 42am PST Last week    [TGT]was called out for trying to trap  [TGT]  prey   actor Henry Cavill   when  she  uploaded a sexy snap of  herself  in lingerie shortly after following Cavill ’ s account . Sabrina Zohar   who is 27 and the founder of clothing company Softwear   regularly posts photos of  herself  clad in lingerie   lounging around  her  swanky Williamsburg apartment . Male followers flood  her  with flirtatious comments   and that ’ s precisely one of  her  intentions with  her  “ thirst traps ” — pics meant to catch a love interest ’ s eye . But there ’ s more to Instagram flirting than just scantily clad pics . Zohar adds an “ authentic ” caption about self - love and empowerment to let  her  audience know she ’ s genuine .  She  recently uploaded a black - and - white photo of  herself  in a bodysuit   pantless   lying down on a shaggy rug with the caption : “ Love yourself first   the rest will fall into place .” Zohar   who ’ s single and has met a handful of first dates on Instagram   says such messages help  her  find the sort of men  she  ’ s looking for . “ If I wanna look for a mate that ’ s a bit more authentic   more real   more in touch with themselves   [ the captions ] will resonate with them so that they understand me more than   ‘ She ’ s a sexy girl just posting a lingerie photo .’ There ’ s more depth to it .” Baiting with a cute animal A post shared by Danny Visconti (@ dannyveee ) on Jan 2   2018 at 10 : 08am PST You don ’ t need to be perfectly ripped to get someone ’ s attention . Danny Visconti   a 32 - year - old television producer in the West Village   says the most alluring feature on his Instagram feed is his 11 - month - old rescue Lab mix   Clint . “ I ’ ll usually get a lot of responses just being like   ‘ Oh   my God   he ’ s so cute  ” says Visconti   who ’ s currently single but has been on a handful of dates with men he met on Instagram . “[ I ’ ll say  ] ‘ Oh   you know you can come meet him anytime you like .’ And then a handful of times they do .” The deep like Going into the archives of someone ’ s profile and liking a weeks - old or months - old photo is a bold way to express romantic interest . “ This is the Instagram flirting equivalent of making a mixtape for your crush  ” says Drew Wyman   a 29 - year - old entrepreneur who met his girlfriend on the social network . “ It ’ s obvious .” Sliding into the DMs Sending a flirty message to someone ’ s Instagram inbox has become a go - to move for many . ‘ Guys tend to be courageous about what they say ’ Dara Pollak   a food blogger whose @ skinnypignyc account has 84   000 followers   says she ’ s been flooded with direct messages from men in response to her photos of decadent burgers and cheesy pastas . “ Guys tend to be courageous about what they say  ” says Pollak   who notes that the best way to stand out is by being honest and straightforward while providing background on yourself . For example   a guy recently messaged her : “ I refuse to believe you eat all this and look as good as you do … but if you ever want to prove it   I ’ ll buy . Here ’ s my number .” Pollak was charmed   but says she ’ s currently not looking to meet anyone online . Stand out with a ‘ Story ’ Zohar says that uploading Instagram Stories — temporary posts of videos or multiple photos that expire after 24 hours — can more effectively grab someone ’ s attention than a permanent post . “ It ’ s because of the algorithm  ” Zohar says . “ Not everybody sees my [ permanent ] posts   but with the live videos [ it ’ s more certain ] somebody will see it .” Every time she uploads a Story of herself in her underwear   Zohar receives anywhere from “ 10 to 15 ” direct messages . Zohar says : “ It ’ s because people perceive I ’ m active [ online ] when I put a Story up .” Tag your way to the ‘ Explore ’ tab Instagram ’ s “ Explore ” tab   which shows a grid of photos from other strangers based on your network and interests   is also a meet market   according to kickboxing instructor Suki Komonaj   28 . She went on a date with a guy she found on the Explore page because he had similar interests in fitness and had some attractive workout pics . “ I ’ m always on that page  ” says Komonaj   who ’ s based in The Bronx and is currently single . To attract fitness - minded guys to her page   she uses hashtags such as # fit   # boxing and # fitthick to get on like - minded ( and like - bodied ) men ’ s Explore tabs . “ I wanna target somebody who likes to be in the gym like me   owning a business and such  ” Komonaj says .