After a summer run that pulled 11M views and 50K downloads, this VC-backed app built by four recent grads has entered its second act, one powered by drama-driven storytelling.
Cerca is a dating app that connects you with people already in your social circle. The concept is that you meet “mutuals” instead of complete strangers.
The app now ranks #98 in Social Networking, holding about 20,000 monthly downloads.
In the last 30 days, Cerca’s UGC network pulled in 6.3M views, bringing lifetime views to 29.3M.
The winning format: Bad Dates → Better App. The latest wave of UGC creators are sharing chaotic, confession-style storytelling “bad date” POVs.
Stage 1: The Hook
“Worst date ever 🚫” / “I went on a date and she made TikToks about it…”
Stage 2: The Punchline
Chaos, cheating, or cringe-worthy behavior.
Stage 3: Pivot
“Deleted Hinge. Might try Cerca.”
Some of their recent hits:
“Just went on a hinge date…I’m deleting” -> 1.2M views
“I went on a date and the girl made tik Tok’s about it…” -> 1M views
Some accounts are recent and not yet viral, but they’re replicating the same format:
“worst date ever” -> 2.3K views
Many use “.dates”, “.nycdates”, or “.matches”, signaling a unified dating-confession ecosystem.
You can check out all their accounts here: https://app.shortimize.com/c/2b10F4T9UcwVts
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