An online dating application, also called a dating app, is a service that helps people find romantic partners using a smartphone. These apps use a phone's GPS to show users nearby people, are always available on the phone, and can connect to mobile payment systems. They help make the process of finding a partner, talking, and possibly meeting easier.
In the United States, online dating apps are now very common. By 2017, online dating (including apps and other services) was the main way new couples met. It is expected that by 2040, about 70% of couples will meet online.
Origins
The first computer dating service began in 1964. It was called the St. James Computer Dating Service, later renamed Com-Pat. In 1965, a U.S. service named Operation Match started using computers to match people. It asked men and women to answer questions about themselves. Operation Match influenced Dateline, a popular service during the 1970s and 1980s. Match.com was created in 1995 and made computer dating a successful business. Grindr was launched to connect gay and bisexual men. Tinder, introduced in 2012, helped online dating apps grow, with both new and existing services expanding to mobile phones.
Usage by demographic group
Online dating apps are often used by younger people, but some apps, like Senior Match and Silver Singles, are designed for people aged 50 and older. In 2016, nearly half of people knew someone who used online dating services or met a partner through them. After the iPhone was introduced in 2007, the use of online dating apps increased rapidly. In 2005, only 10% of people aged 18–24 used online dating services, but by a later year, this number rose to over 27%, making this age group the largest group of users for most apps. A 2016 study by Pew Research Center found that 59% of U.S. adults believed online dating was a good way to meet people, compared to 44% in 2005. This growth is linked to the widespread use of smartphones. By the end of 2022, it is expected that 413 million people worldwide will use online dating services.
Smartphone use among people aged 65 and older has also led to more use of dating apps. Pew Research Center found that app use by this group increased by 8 percentage points since 2012. A 2021 study found that more than one-third of seniors have dated in the past five years, and about one-third of those seniors used dating apps.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans used online dating apps than ever before. A survey in April 2020 by Morning Consult found that 53% of U.S. adults who use dating apps used them more during the pandemic. By February 2021, this number had risen to 71%.
Research using Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory shows that attitudes toward online dating apps vary across cultures. A study in the Journal of Creative Communications examined dating-app advertisements from over 51 countries and how they relate to cultural values. The study found that these ads addressed different needs, such as relationships, friendship, entertainment, and identity. The ads were found to match the individualism/collectivism and uncertainty avoidance cultural dimensions.
Popular applications
After Tinder became popular, other companies created dating apps. Raya was launched in 2015 as a membership-only dating app that required users to join through referrals. It was designed for people who are famous or well-known. Many dating apps have been developed to connect people who follow specific religions and want partners who share the same beliefs. Examples include Muzmatch for Muslims, Christian Mingle, SALT, and Christian Connection for Christians, and JSwipe and JDate for Jews.
VR Dating is a type of Social VR that allows people to meet, work together, and do activities in a virtual environment. These apps use virtual and augmented reality to create a more realistic and engaging dating experience. They also help people try new ways of meeting others online that were not possible before.
There are several online platforms for VR Dating. The app Nevermet is similar to Tinder but uses virtual images of users instead of real photos. People interact with avatars, which are digital representations of themselves, instead of seeing real faces. Flirtual is a VR app that helps users find matches and decide where and how to meet in virtual reality. It also hosts events like speed dating and social gatherings in VR.
Effects on dating
Online dating apps have both benefits and challenges. Many apps use personality tests or computer programs to match users. These tools help people find others who might be a good match. Users have control over their choices and can pick from many options. They can skip people they are not interested in, making it easier to find matches that fit their preferences. Once users are interested, they can chat with others, which saves time and money compared to traditional dating. Online dating is convenient because it works with people’s schedules. It can also help build confidence, as users know there are many other people to choose from if one match does not work out. In the United States, 60% of adults believe online dating is a good way to meet people, and 66% have gone on a real date with someone they met through an app. About 5% of married or partnered Americans met their partner online, and 39% of online dating users (12% of all U.S. adults) have had a committed relationship or marriage through an app.
People who feel rejected easily are more likely to use online dating apps. These apps help them express themselves more honestly, which may improve their chances of finding a match. They also reduce the stress of rejection because the apps hide signs of rejection.
People who worry about relationships (attachment anxiety) also use online dating apps more often. These apps let them share a version of themselves that is both real and positive, which can help them feel more confident and less anxious about finding a partner.
However, having too many choices can be confusing. Users might spend too much time searching for the "perfect" match instead of starting a relationship. Also, the systems that match people are not always accurate. No system can perfectly match everyone’s personalities every time.
Online communication lacks the physical connection that is important in relationships. Texting can miss important details, and people may judge others based only on profile pictures before learning about their personalities.
A problem with dating apps is "ghosting," where someone stops talking to another person without explanation. This can make users stop using apps. Some apps now include features to help people end conversations politely.
Online dating was once seen as unusual, but it is now widely accepted in the United States.
Perverse incentives and enshittification
The market for dating apps has been used as an example of a decline in quality over time. These apps are meant to help people find romantic partners, but their creators often want to make money by encouraging users to pay for premium features. This can lead to problems, as the focus on making money may cause the apps to become less effective at helping users find partners. An analysis by OK Cupid, which was later removed, tried to measure how these financial goals affect app performance. Studies using math models have also shown that app companies may benefit financially from giving users an experience that is not the best.
Data privacy
Dating apps and online dating sites are sometimes involved in problems related to how user data is used. In 2018, Grindr, a dating platform for people who identify as gay, was accused of sharing information about users’ HIV status with other companies. Grindr admitted the claims were true but said it was done to improve its service. This explanation did not satisfy the LGBT community. Grindr tried to protect itself by explaining its data security measures and by having its Chief Technology Officer, Scott Chen, publicly address users. In Europe, dating platforms are paying more attention to data laws because of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which can punish companies with fines if they break the rules.
Other types of personal information are also sold by dating apps. The most commonly purchased data is the location of users. When users allow apps to track their location, the apps record and store this information using a system that uses numbers to show where people are. If a data breach happens, this location information can reveal where users live.
Like other apps, dating apps can experience security problems. For example, hackers found security issues on Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel, and Adult FriendFinder. On Adult FriendFinder, the personal information of more than 412 million users was exposed, making it one of the largest data leaks in history. In 2016, hackers called the "Impact Team" leaked the personal details of nearly 40 million users of Ashley Madison. This included names, phone numbers, email addresses, locations, and sexual preferences. Ashley Madison had told users the service was completely "anonymous" and "100% discrete," but the company did not fully delete user accounts when users paid for that option. Some users reported feeling so upset after the leak that they committed suicide.
After studying many dating apps, researchers found that most major dating apps are vulnerable to simple attacks that can reveal sensitive information, such as sexual orientation, preferences, email addresses, and how users interact with each other.
Online dating platforms are also used as traps. Attackers create fake profiles to trick users into sharing private information.
These platforms have become places where scammers operate, causing financial and emotional harm to users. In 2022, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that about 70,000 people in the United States were victims of romance scams, losing a total of $1.3 billion. On average, each person lost about $4,400.
In the United Kingdom, there has also been a rise in scams. Barclays Bank reported a 60% increase in losses from romance scams over six months in 2023. On average, victims lost about £10,000.