Search Results: getting approached by guys

When I was a senior in high school (last year), I had to go to my senior year prom by myself. I planned on asking one girl, but she told me she didn't want to go with me. I tried to ask another girl and she said the same thing. I planned on asking a third girl, who was having trouble getting a prom date, and she decided to go by herself knowing that I wanted to go with her. She even called me "ugly and not worth her time". I planned on asking two more girls and they both turned me down too, both saying that I wasn't attractive enough for them. I was depressed and on the brink of crying (which is major because i'm not the type of guy to cry about stuff) and not go to prom at all, but my friend convinced me to go because "it would still be a fun time". Well, when it was time to slow dance, no one wanted to slow dance with me so I sat out and wallowed in self-pity and blamed by genetics (which was the reason why I didn't get a date). To this day, this still affects me. I don't approach girls because I already know that they don't want to date me. Should I let go of this thing that happened to me?

I’m actually quite tired and sick of failures in my social life. I’m a guy turning 23 next year in March. I have never been in relationship whatsoever. I have been getting rejected by girls from time to time.

1) I’m not an introvert and shy. I can effortlessly talk to people.
2) I having trying online dating websites and apps such as tinder, bumble, okcupid, international Cupid... etc. I haven’t had any luck whatsoever. I didn’t even get one match.
3) I work out.
4) I have a good paying job.
5) I’m very average looking.
6) I take time to build friendships with girls that I’m interested in. I dont approach random girls and ask them out on dates. The girls that rejected me are the ones I know.

Here’s what I have done. I have changed some of my preferences. I’m trying out gay dating apps and see if I can find guys. I’ve had a very milder lever of success. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a straight guy. I’m not bisexual or curious or anything. It’s just that I’m pushing myself into another direction to get some dating and relationship experience. I feel that chasing girls and even building basic friendships with them only results in me getting rejected.

What do you think about my shift?