I had the shortest first date ever – it lasted 45 hours

One woman says the “shortest first date ever” – which lasted just 45 seconds – made her delete all dating apps.

Maggie Smith, 32, never thought a candid TikTok video about one of her shortest dates would bring her internet fame.

She met a man on a dating app outside a restaurant.

“He hugged me and said, ‘Are you hungry? Let’s go in. So I turned around and walked in and he walked in,” she said.

But then he told her to step back outside, and what he said next shocked her.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, “I just wasn’t feeling it.” The interaction lasted less than 45 seconds, leaving Maggie “confused” as she walked back to her car.

“The whole thing is humbling,” she said. “I just go into autopilot mode, say ‘OK’ and walk to my car. It’s like fight or flight mode – I have to get out of there.”

Later, a friend convinced Maggie to share the story on TikTok. What started as a simple Snapchat to her friend quickly resonated with thousands of people.

It has been viewed 15.5 million times and while she received many messages of support, others cruelly accused her of fishing or defended the man’s departure.

Maggie, who is from the Auburn, Alabama, area, said she hasn’t given up on love, but has given up on the apps to focus on herself.

“He knew what I looked like from the app — my dating profile showed me from every angle, without any filters,” she said.

The night before, the man told her that he admired her personality, intelligence and drive and thought she was beautiful. “So, my weight was not a factor.”

When Maggie woke up the next morning, her phone was flooded with notifications.

“Overwhelmingly, the reactions I got were positive. At first I didn’t want to read the comments because I was a bit scared of the internet, but my friends encouraged me.

“There are so many people sharing their experiences, which is encouraging.”

Not all comments are supportive. Some accused her of “fishing,” which prompted her to post a dating profile.

“I’ve always been very honest about my appearance, so I didn’t catfish him,” she said.

The responses sparked a broader discussion about modern dating and the tendency to judge others quickly.

“Dating in 2024, plus the way the app is designed, makes it easy for us to make split-second decisions,” Maggie observed.

“We think our time is more valuable than other people’s time. I don’t think the issue is preference – it’s how to treat people decently, even if they’re not your preference.”

While the viral video has attracted attention from fans and even brands, Maggie says her daily routine has remained largely the same.

“For the most part, my life hasn’t changed. I still work two jobs, hang out with friends on girls’ nights, and go to my friends’ kids’ soccer games,” she shared.

“I haven’t given up on dating completely, but dating apps are not healthy for my mental health right now. I want to continue to grow and become who I want to be.”

Despite the ups and downs, Maggie remains grateful for the support she has received. “It’s incredible to hear from people who feel heard because they have similar stories,” she said. “I never thought it would be like this, but if it helps people feel less alone, that’s the best outcome I can hope for.”