Search Results: hot to get a girlfriend

What works? Am I out of touch? Tinder? Bumble? Should I DM people on Instagram?

I've personally used some online dating sites and I don't DM people on Instagram (I have a belief that this is very thirsty behavior and I shouldn't do it. I had a pretty hot girlfriend up until recently and her DMs were constantly full of guys trying to hit on her and I got the idea that this is futile and low-value. If this is not true, tell me why). Haven't had much results at all this way though, so I've focused on meeting people in real life. This has worked just ok and it's getting better slow and steady (I WANT TO MEET GREAT GIRLS NOW, WAAAHHH 👶) but I can't help feeling like I just don't know how to online date well enough and I'm missing out. I feel that I'm enough of a man and there's no reason why I shouldn't have more and better options. HELP!

Guys, where/ how have you had the best success?

Girls, how can I best reach out? Why?

This is not scientific and is based on my personal opinion after dating, going on dates and being in relationships, hitting and being on... Plus plenty of observations and stories i heard.

A lot of times you see a hot woman with a barely average dude, and a hot dude who can't get an eqully attractive girlfriend... Even though iam very attractive to many women and i dated attractive girls but the ones that i truly felt had a serious interest in me and acted on that interest were women whom are close to me in some way or another... Classmates, coworkers, mutual friebds... etc

In short i believe that close to 70% of women only give a chance to men they are close to in one way or another as in, a complete stranger no matter how hot or cool will never be able to truly get an equal , fair chance at dating that woman.