Dating apps/sites are an entirely separate issue, I think. I joined one, just to see what kind of people would be on there in my area. I have no picture up, my profile is basic as hell. I still get a lot of messages every time I log in. I only log in once about ever month or two and every time I do, I get another 5-10 messages from guys. They are all generic. Hi....how are you....what do you like....blah blah blah. There's no personalization, nothing indicating they actually want to know me. It's just cheap messages that I have no desire to respond to because they couldn't be bothered to put some effort into it. I did reply to one of the many many messages I got because he did actually put some effort into it, but he didn't like that I wanted to chat for a bit before showing him a picture or even discussing meeting in person. I want someone to get to know me based on who I am, not what I look like. Yeah, I know catfishing is all too real and all that and I understand when they bolt, but still, out of probably 100 messages, I get one guy that actually put some effort into a message.
I don't think it's so much getting to know them as friends, as much as just making sure you aren't an axe murderer or whatever. At least that's my take on it.