Pre-Apocalyptic Optimism: Dating Apps and the Search for Something Real

Why do we keep swiping—even when it feels pointless?
Why do we reinstall the apps—even after swearing them off?
Why do so many of us keep trying—in a system that rarely seems to work?

This isn’t a doomscrolling session.
It’s a compassionate look at what modern dating apps represent: a strange blend of technological promise, emotional exhaustion, and quiet hope.

Led by Emily Pabst, strategist and founder of Remake The Rules, this talk explores:

• Why dating apps feel both addictive and defeating
• How default thinking and false signals shape our swiping
• What this persistence says about our deeper desires—and how to honor them differently

We’ll also dig into ChoiceTech (technology that structures human decision-making) and the growing impact of choice inflation—how having more options can lead to more doubt, not more satisfaction.

If you're caught between disillusionment and optimism, come sit with that tension—and leave with a smarter lens and a more human approach to trying again.