Random Things That You Need To Know About Raya (11 items)

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  (#11) It's One Of Many Exclusive Apps

  Like it or not, Tinder revolutionized the world of online dating. Now Raya is hoping to take it to the next level, but they have to contend with some serious competitors. Tinder launched their "Select" feature in the early months of 2017, with the goal of creating a more exclusive experience. Users must be invited to join Tinder Select, and no one is really sure how the app decides whom to invite.

  There are plenty of other dating apps that pride themselves on their selectivity. The League is a business-oriented app that brags about having 100,000 people on their waitlist to join. Luxy is another app that caters to the rich; they claim that over 50% of their users make more than $500,000 dollars a year.
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  (#1) John Mayer Is Just One Notable User

  The exclusivity and privacy-oriented nature of Raya was deliberately designed to appeal to celebrities, who make up a significant portion of the user-base. Members can expect to find people like John Mayer, Chelsea Handler, and Diplo while swiping through its roster of stars. The app is absolutely full of models, pro athletes, actors, Internet celebrities, fashion designers, and basically anyone with a recognizable face – hence its nickname, "Illuminati Tinder."
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  (#4) You Better Have A Few Thousand Instagram Followers If You Want To Join

  Part of Raya's application process is an in-depth evaluation of the prospective member's Instagram page. Every member has at least a few thousand followers, but quantity is not the only factor used to determine membership. Raya's administrators also take into account how many existing Raya users follow the person's Instagram page, probably as a way to keep the user-base as exclusive as possible. Those who pass the Instagram test are one step closer to membership.
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  (#7) Matches Aren't Restricted By Location

  One thing differentiates Raya from Tinder is the lack of location restrictions. Tinder only allows you to view people in a certain radius, but Raya is globally minded. You could even match with someone on another continent – though that's not exactly convenient for a date.
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  (#3) An Anonymous Committee Decides Who's Allowed To Join

  Raya prides itself on exclusivity, and it's easy to understand why. Celebrities don't want to be members of a dating service where they can be harassed by uber-fans desperate for an autograph.

  There is an extensive application process for all potential members, and they apparently reject a lot of people. According to the official Raya website, an anonymous committee of hundreds of people weighs in on every application. Then, some sort of algorithm decides who is allowed in and who is shown the door. Of course, it helps if you're referred by an existing member, too.
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  (#8) Profiles Include Slideshows Set To Music

  One feature that makes Raya stand out is the layout of the profiles. Instead of swiping through someone's photos, profiles consist of moving slideshows set to a song of the user's choice. There is also a link to the user's Instagram page, which helps prove the identity of the member. Raya doesn't want anyone to get catfished on their platform, especially since at least one member, Nev Schulman, is actually known for the movie and show Catfish.

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