Dating sites/apps are hell. They literally are designed to do the exact opposite of what they are supposedly for, connecting people. Most people who use them are just bored and get addicted to the dopamine hit of swiping and matching. Either that or they are scummy or scammers in some way. The apps themselves are designed to get people to keep using them, it actively prevents genuine connection. Someone naive and genuine like you is just more fodder for their profits, I'm sorry to say.
I get that it's hard to meet people when you're in a niche for whatever reason, personal and geographical, but the only way I have been in anyway successful with these apps to really meet people is to keep it strictly geographically limited, and meet up with people as soon as possible. If you jus want to chat with people far away I guess you can probably make that happen, but please be careful, anyone willing to do that may be assuming an identity, have sketchy ulterior motives, or just be fucking with you for sick entertainment. Don't trust someone you've never met and won't be able to meet.
We have been done dirty in this world. They got everyone hooked on their phones so it's impossible/very hard to connect irl anymore, and gave us these bullshit apps and social media instead which actually prevent connection and make you feel even more rejected and lonely, and put you at risk of being scammed or messed with. It's evil.
I'd try and find some communities online or irl related to a hobby or interest you have, in order for there to be some basis to a connection you make. It's easy to bond with people here because we all have a shared common interest.