BBC – Young adults are moving away from dating apps and meeting partners through shared-interest platforms like video games, fitness apps, and online communities. Tinder lost 594K users, Bumble dropped by 368K, and Hinge declined by 131K in the UK, according to Ofcom's 2024 report. A 2023 US survey found 79% of Gen Z were using dating apps less frequently. Instead, platforms like Strava (135M users, 20% growth) and Letterboxd (50% growth) are becoming spaces where people naturally form connections. On Strava, 1 in 5 Gen Z users have gone on a date through fitness clubs.
Category: All Internet Dating Statistics
AI Romance Scams Surge: 52% of Online Daters Targeted
BUSINESSWIRE – McAfee’s research highlights a surge in AI-driven romance scams, with 52% of online daters reporting financial or gift-related scams. 21% have been approached by fake celebrity accounts, with 33% losing money, averaging $1,985 per victim. AI-powered deception is rising, with 26% encountering AI chatbots posing as real people and 32% believing they could develop feelings for an AI companion.
Researchers Create Dating App to Study Attraction and Relationships
WHYY.ORG – Two University of Michigan researchers created Revel, a dating app designed for scientific research on relationships. Frustrated by the lack of access to dating app data, they built their own platform where users consent to in-depth psychological surveys about attraction, compatibility, and decision-making. Unlike commercial dating apps, Revel prioritizes research over profit, aiming to improve dating experiences through data-driven insights. Experts believe the app could provide valuable findings on relationships, though some question whether users' behavior will change knowing they are being studied.
Third of Singles Say They Embellish Their Dating Profiles
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK – A survey by Censuswide found that 36% of singles admit to embellishing their dating profiles, while 37% have encountered profiles that seemed “too good to be true.” Common white lies include using old photos, exaggerating jobs or salaries, and fabricating hobbies. Despite this, 46% of singles ignore red flags, and 11% struggle to spot romance scams. 27% have been contacted by a catfish, highlighting the risks of online dating.
AI in Online Dating: a New Tool or a Growing Threat?
PR NEWSWIRE – A Norton study reveals AI’s growing role in online dating, with 60% of users suspecting AI-generated messages and 64% open to using AI for profiles or chat. While AI enhances dating experiences, it also enables scams. 55% of online daters encounter suspicious profiles weekly, and 40% have been targeted by scams, including catfishing (55%) and romance scams (34%). Only 46% can accurately spot fake images, and 27% have seen their photos misused. With AI-driven scams on the rise, Norton urges caution, highlighting red flags like avoiding video calls, financial requests, and rapid emotional manipulation.
Illicit Encounters Reports Surge in Affairs on First Monday of January, Known as Divorce Day
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK – A surge in post-holiday infidelity and relationship breakups has marked January as a peak period for marital tensions, dubbed "Blue Monday for relationships." Illicit Encounters, a dating site for affairs, reported a 33% rise in sign-ups compared to last year, driven by feelings of dissatisfaction and the desire for a fresh start. Meanwhile, "Divorce Day" sees law firms bracing for an influx of cases, with 80% of women expressing regret for not initiating divorce sooner. Key reasons for divorce include growing apart (54%), adultery (30%), and domestic abuse (24%).
Share of U.S. Adults Living Alone Has Ticked Down in Recent Years
PEW RESEARCH – The share of U.S. adults living without a romantic partner has declined slightly, from 44% in 2019 to 42% in 2023, with modest increases in married adults (from 50% to 51%) and those cohabiting with a partner (from 6% to 7%). Those with lower education levels are more likely to be unpartnered. The decrease in unpartnered adults is attributed to fewer divorces rather than an increase in new marriages, with the divorce rate hitting a record low of 1.4% in 2023.
25% of Young Couples in Japan Meet Through Dating Apps
JAPAN TIMES – Dating apps in Japan are increasingly popular among Gen Z, with a government survey showing 25% of couples under 40 who married recently met online. Platforms like Pairs and Tinder are adapting to Gen Z preferences, emphasizing shared interests through features like "My Tags" and "Real-Mind-Matching." While apps expand options for niche hobbies and traits, users often prioritize physical attributes like height or appearance, leading to a "grass is greener" mentality. Despite the challenges, dating apps remain a significant way for young people to meet in a society with fewer traditional social opportunities.
59% of Couples Now Meet Online, Surpassing Traditional Methods
DAILY MAIL – By 2020–2022, 59% of couples met online, compared to just 12% in the early 2000s, marking a sharp rise in internet dating's dominance. Meeting through friends, which accounted for 33% of relationships in the 1960s, dropped to 15% in the 2020s. Workplace romances fell from 20% in the 1960s to just 7% today, while bars and restaurants, once responsible for 17% of introductions, have also declined. Online dating surpassed all other methods in the late 2010s when it overtook friends as the leading way couples meet.
Dating Sunday: Busiest Day for Dating Apps
NBC LOS ANGELES – Dating Sunday, the first Sunday of January, is the busiest day for dating apps, with Tinder reporting a 40% surge in users, a 22% rise in messages, and an 18% increase in likes compared to typical Sundays. Response times are 20 minutes faster, and the platform sees 58.7 million more likes in the six weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day.