Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, July 05 2024 @ 11:37 am
Last modified on Friday, July 05 2024 @ 11:40 am
A new study from Eventbrite says that young people are turning away from dating apps to meet at in-person gatherings.
According to Axios[*1] , the study showed a 42 percent increase in people signing up for in-person dating events, like speed dating, between 2022 and 2023. From May 2023 to April 2024, Eventbrite also saw more than 1.5 million searches for dating and singles events on its platform.
"This ongoing trend speaks to a broader societal shift where people are craving genuine connections and meaningful experiences tailored to their interests," Eventbrite said in the report, which was released in early June.
Another interesting finding is that nearly half of Gen Z respondents said connecting with others who have similar interests is one of the biggest challenges of online dating, despite the lengths to which these platforms go to match people according to preferences, including using AI as a tool.
According to Axios, study participants were looking for events based on their interests when searching singles events on Eventbrite, like game-based nights or athletic events such as pickleball or hiking. Hobby-based events have also increased in popularity according to the study.
Safety is another concern for online daters, according to the study. In fact, 41 percent of respondents said that safety was a top concern when they were meeting people through a dating app – and would prefer meeting potential dates through friends.
The rise in dating app scams, harrassment and sending unsolicited photos to women on dating apps is on the rise. In 2020, a roundtable was formed by the authorities in Australia to demand dating apps come up with better safety guards on their platforms. Dating apps have started to address these concerns with added features like photo verification, but problems still persist and often go underreported, leading many to search for options outside of apps.
Recently, women have turned to TikTok to admit they are #boysober and refusing dates altogether due to the bad experiences they’ve had online. Another movement regarding celibacy has been gaining momentum too, where women are declining getting intimate with men as their bodily rights are being restricted.
The Guardian[*2] noted this when it comes to dating apps: “…the onus of taking action to protect oneself continues to fall disproportionately on women, who find themselves navigating potential risks including harassment, stalking and abuse, requiring them to be vigilant. They must screen profiles, verify identities, protect their privacy and manage communication boundaries.”
Eventbrite is a platform where organizations and people can post their events and invite people to RSVP, join, or attend. The study was conducted via survey in March of 2024, and over 1,000 people participated.