Why online dating surged during Covid-19 and what happens next

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in dating app activity. From March 2020, as much of the world went into lockdown, people began to use dating apps more. This has been shown through statistics proving that even the pandemic could not stop the search for love. Many apps adapted to the changing circumstances by introducing new features such as in-app video calls. Through this, people could connect and have virtual dates. It seems COVID-19 has just shown how vital our need for social connection is. Our need to connect won over the challenges thrown by the virus.

Online Dating Trumps All

A story from New York went viral in March of last year when a person asked his neighbor out for a date by sending a message through a drone. The couple finally met after a few months when the first wave was under control, and one of them showed up to the date covered in a plastic bubble. Funny, though, it seems this story was one of the many stories shared online. People struggled to overcome loneliness and meet and connect with prospective romantic partners.

Romantic partners who did not live with each other had to comply with social distancing requirements. Those in long-distance relationships were forced to deal with border closures and flights being canceled. In the backdrop of all these challenges, romantic relationships throughout last year and most of this year are forged online through dating apps. Singles have been joining apps more than ever before, and the time spent on dating apps has also increased more than ever before. The apps also facilitated video calling, so more virtual dates happened in 2020 compared to any other year in recent memory.

The science behind seeking a connection

Loneliness is one of the most dangerous factors that can harm our mental health, according to Dr. Louise C. Hawkley at the University of Chicago. It’s not just avoiding loneliness, but people also tend to seek meaning in times of crisis, according to research from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). In line with these research findings, there are also strong indicators that casual connections are declining. Serious relationships are more likely to happen once life comes back to normal.

The rise of niche dating apps

If the job losses during the pandemic have taught us anything, its financial stability and security are essential to many people. The appeal of niche-based apps such as those based on financial stability, safety, and transparency will increase. We already have apps for people with compatible politics, religious affiliation, and even zip codes. People will be more inclined to date those who share a similar financial outlook in life.

The beginning of a more meaningful dating experience?

Statistics have also shown that the length of average messages being exchanged on dating apps has increased by 30%. This indicates that people are investing more effort into deeper conversations rather than just setting updates. The increased length of the text messages also means that people have more meaningful discussions on the apps before meeting in person.

These trends point towards a highly slowed-down world where users take their time to understand and find out more about their match. Rather than just swiping left or right based on a picture, that signals a new stage of slowed down, more meaningful dating with an emphasis on an array of factors other than just a photo. People will seek stability, and one of the most significant indicators of stability is a high credit score, a steady flow of income, and a healthy financial outlook.

As lockdowns continue across much of the world with a resurgence of the pandemic through new variants and mask mandates coming back up, we can expect first dates to happen increasingly virtually. Online dates are significantly different from real-life ones. People have to rely on FaceTime or Zoom to pick up on cues they usually pick up quickly in person. A conversation that is a massive trigger of attraction can still be had virtually. Although there has been an enormous uptick in virtual dates, people have reported lesser satisfaction when compared to real-life dating. This raises some questions about the future of virtual dates.

In conclusion, the pandemic has turned the world upside down in more ways than one. Inevitably online dating has also been impacted in new ways, and people have had to adapt to these changes rapidly. We are messaging 30% longer than usual. We are using new features such as video calling and virtual dating. Online dating surged with almost 3 billion swipes in 24 hours on some apps, and these statistics reveal recent trends for all of us.