OkCupid Finds That Politics is Number One Focus of Daters
Contributed by: kellyseal on Wednesday, June 18 2025 @ 02:07 pm
Last modified on Wednesday, June 18 2025 @ 02:34 pm
A recent study by OkCupid has found that above all else, singles want to know where people stand politically, and more specifically, if their matches’ views align with their own.
According to OkCupid's blog post[*1] , 6 in 10 women around the world want their partners to share their political views. In the U.S. which has become more divided since Trump took office, that number climbs as high as 70 percent. More than half of Gen Z men and women want to share the same political views, as do 63 percent of Millennials and 64 percent of Gen X daters. Among LGBTQ daters, that number goes up to a whopping 80 percent.
According to OkCupid, today’s singles are more interested in where someone stands on issues like climate change or reproductive rights, rather than something benign like where they last went on vacation. And if their politics don’t match, it can be a dealbreaker.
There is a difference among age groups as to how they approach asking their dates about their viewpoints. Gen X daters tend to wait until date number three to discuss politics, while younger daters want to know right away – even within the first ten minutes of messaging a match - about where they fall politically before they decide to meet in person.
Part of this trend might be due to the growing political divide around the world, but most especially in the U.S. with the election of such a polarizing president.
In addition to similar political beliefs, the vast majority of daters are looking for relationship stability that has eluded them in recent years, thanks to dating app behaviors like ghosting and the more casual “situationships” that leave many confused and frustrated with the process. Eighty-two percent of women said they want to find their “forever person,” as do 73 percent of men and 65 percent of LGBTQ+ daters.
Authenticity is another major factor for daters. Despite the rise of AI tools to help edit photos, messages, and bios, 60 percent of daters said they aren’t into their matches using AI-edited profile pics. In fact, 55 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds and 56 percent of 26 to 35 year olds find them to be a turn-off. Nearly 90 percent of younger daters say AI could never replace real human interaction.
Above all, OkCupid emphasized that singles are looking for matches who aren’t afraid to share what they believe in and stand for, and that this is particularly attractive to matches. The company’s blog post reads: “So if you’re wondering what to put in your profile, maybe skip the beach pics and start with your stance on climate change.”