Google Reports Surge in Searches About Dating

Google has revealed that searches for dating content have reached a five-year high, thanks in part to the growing interest in dating apps during the pandemic.

According to a report from NPR, the most popular dating search term, at least in the Washington D.C. area, was “how to date,” indicating that people are gearing up for meeting in-person again after a year and a half of lockdowns. Searches for “top dating apps 2021” also exploded 3400 percent over the last month, and “dating apps for older people” rocketed up 3500 percent. 

Dana Balch, a spokesperson for Tinder, told NPR that the app has seen some of its highest swiping days in the spring, when daters were gearing up for what was dubbed a ‘Hot Vax Summer.’ "I think this is really coming from a place where people want to connect with others during a time when they've felt isolated," she told NPR.

Balch noted that the word “vaccine” started popping up in Tinder bios as soon as it became available, with daters opting for vaccinated matches to the point where Bumble, Tinder, Hinge and other dating apps created new features to showcase whether or not a user had been vaccinated, like via a profile badge.

She said: "feeling comfortable being able to say, 'I only want to meet someone if they meet this health care boundary that I have,' and the ability of the vaccine that allows people to feel safer when going out together, definitely contributed to an interest in dating this summer.”

Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd noted that while people are eager to meet in person, and this summer still remains a particularly active summer despite increased cases of Covid-19, many will still opt for virtual dating to get to know someone before they take that step to meet in person. 

She seems to be right. Searches for “virtual first date ideas” rose 450 percent in recent weeks according to Google, despite more people getting vaccinated. During the pandemic, virtual dating became so popular that apps rushed to offer features to keep people engaged and not moving to Facetime or other third-party apps to connect. Bumble even rolled out creative online dates for users to choose from, like cooking classes taught by an Italian chef, museum tours, and other online activities.

The pandemic has shifted the way a majority of singles approach dating, with dating apps recruiting new members at their highest volumes to date. According to research app Annie, Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are among the top 50 highest-grossing apps in the app market right now.