A blind date is a romantic meeting between two people who have never met before. Both people plan the meeting without knowing much about each other, hoping to make a good impression. Usually, a family member or friend helps arrange the meeting, and the date is often a surprise. The origin of blind dates is not certain, but some say they became popular in the early 1900s in the United States or during matchmaking efforts in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe in the 1800s.

Etymology

The word "blind date" comes from the words "blind" (meaning something done without knowing certain details) and "date" (a social meeting between two people that may have a romantic aspect). The term was first used in the United States in the 1920s. Initially, it described the event itself in 1921, and later it referred to the people involved in 1925.

Structure

A blind date is set up by a mutual friend of both people involved. The two individuals may not know each other or have met before, which is why it is called a "blind date." The person who arranges the date must decide if the two people are a good match. Sometimes, one person may be more interested in meeting than the other, making it harder for the organizer to predict if the date will go well.

Blind dates are usually short, lasting about two hours or less. This is because the date is meant to help the two people get to know each other, not to start a relationship. Since the people are not familiar with each other, the date is shorter than most. It can also be exciting because neither person knows what will happen or if they will like each other. The location is often a public place, like a café or park, to make both people feel safe and comfortable.

Over the past 60 years, family and friends have become less important in helping people find partners. Since 1997, the Internet has changed how people meet. It has replaced places like work, neighborhoods, and friends as common ways to find dates. In May 2013, about 11% of adults in the United States used online dating websites or apps. At that time, 59% of people who use the Internet believed online dating was a good way to meet others. In September 2013, China’s largest online dating site had more than 100 million users. For couples who have been together for over a year, whether they met online or in person had little effect on how successful their relationship was.

Online dating services use surveys to learn about users and understand what they want in a relationship. After collecting information, the service matches users using computer programs. Users are then encouraged to talk to each other.

A study by Match.com found that 17% of couples who married in the past three years met online. Also, one in five single people has dated someone they met through an online dating site.

There are many online dating websites. The most popular ones are eHarmony, which has 20 million profiles, and Match.com, which has 15 million profiles.

By country

In China, parents often arrange blind dates for their children in parks. Events where parents look for partners for their children have made parks popular places for people searching for relationships. At Zhongshan Park, parents sit on benches with information about their children, such as photos and details about their education and jobs. After sharing information, parents may ask questions about their child's zodiac sign or where they live. If parents are satisfied, they exchange contact details. This process can be stressful for both parents and children, as they may not agree on choices, making it harder to find a partner. Li, a middle-aged man who has attended blind dates, says he has met women who are not interested in finding a partner. These women attend dates only to make their parents happy.

In 2024, the Iranian government launched a popular Reels IG TV show about blind dates. In South Korea, blind dating is a common way to meet people. There are two types of blind dates: "mee-ting" and "sogeting." Mee-ting dates are group meetings where people do not expect to form serious relationships and are often used by university students. Sogeting dates are for people who are single and looking for a partner. These dates involve less alcohol than mee-ting dates.

Examples in popular culture

• Blind Date (radio series): A 1940s American dating game show on the radio.
• Blind Date (American game show): An American dating game show based on the earlier 1940s radio version.
• Parental Control: An MTV reality show where parents select two dates for their child. Parents ask questions to choose the best candidates. After each date, the child decides whether to stay with their current partner or begin a new relationship with one of the blind dates.
• Blind Date Australia: An Australian dating game show produced by Sony Pictures Television. It uses the same format as the British and American versions. The show first aired in 1967 with Graham Webb as the host. Other hosts over the years included Jeremy Cordeaux (1970), Bobby Hanna (1974), Greg Evans (1991), and Julia Morris, who currently hosts the rebooted version that began in October 2018. The show airs on Network 10.
• Blind Date UK: A British dating game show produced by London Weekend Television. An unscreened pilot was made with comedian Duncan Norvelle as the host, but the show was eventually hosted by Cilla Black. It aired on Saturday nights from 1985 to 2003.
• Blind Date USA: An American dating game show created by John Degnan. It aired in syndication from 1999 to 2006 and was hosted by Roger Lodge. The series was distributed by Universal Worldwide Television.
• The Choice: An American television show where male celebrities sit with their backs to the stage. Female contestants have a set amount of time to win the attention of the celebrities. If the men are interested, they turn their chairs. At the end of each show, the men choose a woman to go on a date.
• The Dating Game: A game show created by Chuck Barris. A single woman sits on one side of a wall, and three bachelors sit on the other side. Each bachelor answers questions from the woman. At the end of the show, she selects a candidate for a blind date. A board game version of the show was also made.
• The Bachelor: An American television show that began in 2002. A single man goes on a blind date with 25 women who want to become his wife. The women live together and compete for roses and invitations to stay for another week. This show inspired other shows, such as The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, and Bachelor in Paradise.
• The Amazing Race 26: In a different format, 10 single contestants were paired into 5 couples (4 heterosexual and 1 homosexual) based on compatibility tests. These 5 couples joined 6 couples who were already in relationships.

• Blind Date: A 1934 American film starring Ann Sothern and Neil Hamilton.
• Blind Date: A 1987 American movie where Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) is set up on a blind date with Nadia (Kim Basinger) by his brother for an office party.
• Go-Con! Japanese Love Culture: A 2000 Japanese film.
• Blind Date: A 2015 French film starring Mélanie Bernier and Clovis Cornillac.
• Man Up: A 2015 British-French romantic comedy starring Lake Bell and Simon Pegg. The film follows a 34-year-old woman who, after being mistaken for a stranger’s blind date, finds a boyfriend in a 40-year-old divorcé.