I would have never thought they would work, but my long-time bachelor brother met a woman on a dating app that turned out to be awesome. All my wife's matchmaking was for nothing, but the dating app came through.
He was just past fifty and she was about to turn forty. Married five years now. They adore each other and will grow old together, as long as he follows her advice on diet and exercise.
To answer your question, I would assume at his age he would have talked to her before meeting her.
On the other hand, if it is a gen X woman or whatever that likes to everything by app, why not meet with her? Just have a plan B for when she doesn't show up. I've talked to some women who go on blind dates from dating sites and they all say they stake out the location and wait until the guy shows. If they don't like his looks, they disappear.
