Badoo

Badoo for Windows is a program that gives you access to the Badoo social network, which is a platform for people looking to date and meet new people.

For those unfamiliar with Badoo, it’s a social network with an emphasis on dating and casual social encounters. Since the goal of the service is to connect you with people in the real world, most of the features are location-based. That way, you’re not getting introduced to people so far away that it’s impractical to have an in-person relationship with them.

Each person on Badoo has a profile, and you can create and edit your profile directly through the program. You can also access the profiles for other people. Since the service is dating-oriented, the profiles tend to be quite elaborate. You’ll be expected to provide a photo, personal details, interests, and a bio, which you can enhance with other images. How much you share and how you present yourself is totally up to you, but a photo-less profile isn’t likely to garner much attention.

There are a number of ways the service can introduce you to new people. It can provide compatible profiles and you can contact those people. Others can contact you through your profile. In addition to location, profiles are matched based on age, gender, sexual orientation, and so forth. You can message profiles and there’s also a built-in chat feature. Chat with strangers or chat with people you’ve added to you contacts.

When it comes to chatting with strangers there are two options: anonymous or Encounters. Anonymous chatting provides a low-pressure situation that can lead to a profile request from you or the other person. With Encounters, you have access to a photo and other information beforehand, and then you can turn the encounter down before the system pairs you.

Badoo even has a notification system. That way, even when you’re not actively using the service, you’ll get real-time updates when a person has visited or liked your profile and other activities. The chat program is a bit on the basic side and will leave a lot to be desired if you’re accustomed to any of the more modern chat programs. Another issue with Badoo is that it offers “super powers,” such as an invisible mode and additional chat features; these powers are only available if you pay for them.