Dating Trends from DateMyAge: Mature Daters Are Checking Off Bucket List Items While Meeting Their Match

DateMyAge users reported destinations such as Phuket and Costa Rica as ideal places to meet a new match

In a world where love knows no bounds, daters 45 and up are opting for more adventure when it comes to finding love. Contrary to the usual dating trends around mature daters, they’re looking for thrill-seeking partners that are interested in checking off “bucket list” items together.

To prove this concept, DateMyAge commissioned a study to dive deeper into the adventurous spirits of daters aged 45+, which proved this demographic isn’t just seeking companionship; they’re looking for exciting, shared experiences when it comes to their love lives.

Middle-aged and even older, retired daters today are feeling the same vigor and excitement they felt when they were dating in their 20s. Social Discovery Group’s platform DateMyAge has been on a mission to connect users with shared interests, which has unearthed an emerging 2024 dating trend, ‘untethered dating,’ in which a large majority (70%) of users are willing to travel to find their perfect match.

The findings shed light on the true desires of mature daters worldwide — and no adventure is “too big”.

Love travels abroad

90% of the DateMyAge community is using the platform’s video date feature which allows them to meet, connect, and video chat with users they are interested in, no matter their location. A third (33%) of singles would buy a plane ticket to meet someone overseas within 72 hours of meeting them online if they felt the connection was worth exploring face to face, and 23% of users claimed they would travel as far as 4,000 miles to meet someone they believe to be a good match. Findings revealed just how many singles are willing to cross borders and go global to find true love. Almost two-thirds (65%) of those surveyed reported they would travel to a different country for a first date if they felt their international connection was strong enough to explore face to face chemistry.

Adventure knows no age

Outside of travel, other bucket list activities from DateMyAge users included swinging with another couple (17%), roleplaying in public (34%), or cosplaying their partner’s favorite character (44%). Nearly all daters (97%) reported that engaging in a new shared dating trend with their significant other brought them closer together.

Notably, 97% of respondents reported that engaging in shared experiences deepened their bond with their significant other. While society tends to associate kinky intimacy with younger couples, DateMyAge’s findings have underscored a lifelong desire to mix things up in the bedroom.

In addition to finding adventure with romantic partners, over half (52%) of those on DateMyAge would use dating apps to find platonic friends in addition to romantic interests. To make the most of their time, over a third (35%) would seek to meet someone new during a sabbatical.

Making an international move for love

In 2024, one of the most prominent dating trends among older daters is a heightened sense of nomadism. Roughly half (46%) of those surveyed reported that they would move abroad to be with a new partner they met online. Around two-thirds (62%) of users reported that they hope to fully retire in a different country and are dating virtually to find a new love to share their retirement era with. Global destinations such as Phuket and Costa Rica were reported as some of the ideal places to meet a new match. To outline the commitment of users, 72% are open to learning a new language to better communicate with their international date.

As the dating landscape continues to evolve, DateMyAge’s study brings the unexpected interests of mature daters to light, showcasing that they are embracing adventure, defying conventions, and finding matches across the globe. In their pursuit of love, they’re not just ticking off items on their bucket lists; they’re rewriting the script of dating, one global rendezvous at a time.

Article by Alex Kudos, Chief Marketing Officer at Social Discovery Group