Research — Are video calls the future of dating?
Have video calls truly replaced real-life dating
While in the past video calls were mostly used for occasional catch-ups with long-distance friends and family members, this year, they practically replaced in-person communication altogether. For the last several months, even dates have mostly taken place online.
To accommodate the new reality, Hily launched the video call feature in March. Since real-life meetings were not possible, a video call became the best way to “go” on a date. As a result, many people used it in their quest for human connection in such trying times.
So are video calls going to change dating forever? Or were they just a temporary solution that we will forget once the pandemic is over? To answer these burning questions, we conducted a survey amongst its users. Our relationship expert Marisa T. Cohen designed the questions and analyzed the results, and here’s what we found out. [You can also read Marisa's blog on Psychology Today]
What’s the best way to get to know someone?
In summer 2020, Hily asked 1,641 men and 770 women between 18 and 35 to answer that question. Only 11% of respondents said they consider a video call the best way to learn more about a potential partner. Another 41% felt like reading the information on the profiles was the best way to go, while 48% of Hily users said they prefer to get to know someone through in-app messaging.
At the same time, 61% of respondents admitted that a video date on Hily is the best replacement for a real-life date in a pandemic.
Cohen, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology, notes,
“It is possible that in the early stages of finding a match, a time in which you are examining the dating pool and reading through the profiles, message exchanges are much more important. However, when it comes to the actual date, the interactive video component is valuable in creating that experience.”
The texting generation
While 21% of Hily users think that a video date is a great way to connect with someone, the majority of respondents (77%) feel that the best way to do it is exchanging in-app text messages.
“While video dating is used to replace the date, it may not help to create a strong bond. People are more accustomed to the format of messaging on dating apps, and find it easier to communicate and create the connection using this feature, compared to having the pressure of connecting via video”, explains Cohen.
She adds, “While video mimics a date, people may be less likely to create a connection this way because they feel uncomfortable asking those deeper, more intimate questions when meeting over the computer without meeting in person first.”
In the times when real-life communication was not possible, video calls became a great source of relief. However, research shows that people aren’t ready to give up on in-person meetings, especially when it comes to dates. It’s still early to draw conclusions regarding the long-term effect of video calls on dating, but two things are clear. First, texting is and perhaps will always be the go-to type of communication for them. Second, nothing matches the thrill of a real-life first date.
