Ever find yourself aimlessly scrolling for the perfect match? Tired of the orthodox DTF (down to fuck) message sent from anonymous profiles? Scroll no more.

Joel Simkhai, founder of the gay hookup app Grindr, and Alex Hostetler have launched a new queer dating app, Motto, which aims to improve the process of dating and hookup culture.

"Our goal is to make Motto the best app for people who are looking for a more guided sort of premium or elevated experience, something that feels more cognizant of how people interact with each other," says Simkhai. "The process feels more open and humane."

Motto first launched in February with Miami as its first city, followed by New York City. However, a recent update in September changed the matchmaking experience entirely. Users are only able to view five to ten profiles per day in an effort to cut down screen time. The queue repopulates at 5 p.m. daily with a different batch of possible matches.

During Simkhai's time as CEO of Grindr from 2009 to 2018, he found users would spend almost a month's time every year actively scrolling on Grindr.

"I probably spent a year of my life, or some ridiculous amount over the last 13 years, on Grindr," he tells New Times. "It's embarrassing sometimes. I'd get sucked into these vortexes of time, and then you think, what's the return on all this, and what did I get out of it?"

By contrast, Simkhai and Hostetler hope users will spend just a few minutes a day on Motto.

"We're tired of this endless scrolling where you're constantly looking to see who else is popping up," Simkhai says. "With Grindr, I think we made it a lot easier to date, but it was a manhunt just to meet someone online. It was really archaic."

He encourages users to plan more time together in real life than on searches from behind a screen.

The app is somewhat exclusive in that Simkhai and Hostetler manually verify each profile before users can start to match. Users are required to include their name, neighborhood, and at least three photos that show their face. Another way is to receive a referral code from an existing user. For now, the app only verifies accounts made in Miami-Dade and NYC, though there are plans to expand.

Once approved, users can personalize their bios based on height, weight, ethnicity, smoking habits, preferred sex position, date of birth, pronouns, and gender. Pronoun options are he/him, she/her, they/them, "prefer not to say," and a blank space to write in. For now, gender options are limited to man, trans man, woman, trans woman, and nonbinary.

"The majority of our users are cisgender gay men, but we do have trans and nonbinary people. We're thrilled to have them, and we'd love to have more," Hostetler explains. "We're going to roll out more features to help people with different gender identities find one another very soon."

Users can also list their health statuses and test dates for HIV, STIs, COVID-19, and monkeypox.

New Times asked for Motto's current user count, but the founders declined to share, noting that the app is still in its early stages.

The ad-free app has hosted dozens of events in Miami this year as one of its primary methods of getting the word out, along with social media.

"It's a bit of a risky business decision, but we think it's worth the mental health of our users," Simkhai says. "Other apps with an ad-driven model want users to constantly spend time seeing those ads."

As for the name, Motto draws on the notion that every person has a unique approach to identifying themself — like a motto, Simkhai explains.

"Motto is this very individualized statement that someone can own and really define," he says. "There are so many different ways to go about hooking up, intimacy, dating, and even how you talk."

The pair also wanted a name that didn't scream cis gay men.

"We didn't want to have a hypermasculine name," Hostetler says. "We were really conscious of keeping the gender expression of our name sort of neutral."

Ultimately, Simkhai and Hostetler say, their mission is not to replace Grindr or eliminate hookups. The key distinction lies in how users go about the search.

"We think Grindr is a super-effective and useful tool, and I don't think that's going to change," Hostetler adds. "We are just trying to create something that gives people a sort of different value system."

To download the app, visit findmotto.com.

Friday, December 23

Are you ready for a holiday kiki? On Friday, Pridelines and Lamaj Eclipse host the Kiki Before Xmax Mini Ball, complete with runway competitions and ballroom categories ranging from face to hands to overall realness. And of course, there's a best-dressed competition. Guests are encouraged (nay, expected) to come decked out in their most extravagant and formal holiday party attire. What's at stake? Well, $1,000 in cash prizes, including honors for best runway, performance, and sex siren. 7 p.m. Friday at Pridelines, 6360 NE Fourth Ct., Miami; 305-571-9601; pridelines.org. Admission is free. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

The collective behind the Boombox in la sagüesera is throwing a Christmas Eve Eve party, appropriately named the Night Before the Night Before Christmas. Where's it taking place? You'll have to buy a ticket to find out. On the lineup, you'll find Badluck, Looongcon, Souls Departed, Ultrathem, and Vorsicht, who are set to take over the decks with heavy basslines and synths. Here's hoping someone drops a bangin' remix of "El Burrito Sabanero." 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, at a secret location. Tickets cost $10 via shotgun. live. Sophia Medina

On Friday, the Miami Heat face off against the Indiana Pacers at FTX Arena. When last we checked, the Heat sat in eighth place in the Eastern Conference — just below the Pacers. But the home team still has plenty of time to turn things around before the playoffs begin mid-April. Bam Adebayo injured an ankle on December 15, so here's hoping he's made a recovery by Friday. 8 p.m. Friday, at FTX Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-777-1000; ftxarena.com. Tickets cost $22 to $500 via ticketmaster.com. Jose D. Duran

DJ/producer Roger Sanchez stops at Lost nightclub on Friday to get everyone moving before the holidays. The house music legend won a Grammy for his remix of No Doubt's "Hella Good" and is a mainstay in the European dance-music scene, especially in Ibiza. He has collaborated and remixed with Diana Ross, Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, and Madonna. 10 p.m. Friday, at Lost, 30 NE 14th St., Miami; apexpresents.com. Tickets cost $20 via eventbrite.com. Sophia Medina

Saturday, December 24

On Saturday, get off the sleigh and work those legs at the Fort Lauderdale Jingle Bell Jog 5K, an annual running event celebrating the winter season. Attendees are expected to take on the long race filled with mistletoe, eggnog, reindeer, and elves helping racers cross the finish line. Participants are encouraged to dress in their Santa best and jingle in their belled running shoes. Runners who complete the race will be awarded a medal to mark the occasion. 8 a.m. Saturday, at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; jinglebelljog.net. Registration costs $20 to $50 via runsignup.com. Sophia Medina

Another year, another Matzoball. While all your gentile friends celebrate the holiday, you can skip the Chinese dinner and head to LIV on Saturday. Jewish singles will come together on Christmas Eve to find new friends and — if your mom's prayers are heard — a match. This year, there's even a Matzoball app to pull it all together and make it a modern dating experience. 10 p.m. at LIV, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; matzoball.org. Tickets cost $50. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

Sunday, December 25

If Dad is rushing you to open your presents quickly, it's because it's game day. This Christmas Day, the Miami Dolphins will host the Green Bay Packers, hoping to parlay their warm-weather advantage into a playoff berth. Fingers firmly crossed that South Florida football fans will have an extra-Merry Christmas. 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens; 305-943-8000; hardrockstadium.com. Tickets cost $135 to $995 via ticketmaster.com. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

Now that you've opened your presents, gorged on holiday treats, and taken a long nap, you're probably wondering what else to do. Head to Gold Rush Cabaret on Christmas Day for the Happy Holidays Party. You'll be welcomed with a complimentary drink to start the night right, and DJ Luxx will be spinning tunes to keep the party going well into the early morning. Of course, Gold Rush's bevy of female entertainers will ply the stage. And if you arrive before 11 p.m., you can enjoy the "Rush Hour" specials, including $5 everything (entry and drinks) and $100 bottles. 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, at Gold Rush, 7770 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-250-2790; goldrushcabaret.com. Sophia Medina