New Pew Study Shows Daters Split When It Comes to Their Experiences on Apps

A new Pew study has found that over half of dating app users (53 percent) said that their experiences have been at least somewhat positive, including 14 percent who said they had very positive experiences. About 46 percent say their experiences on dating apps have been at least somewhat negative, showing the dating population is divided on how well the platforms are working for them.

While 53 percent shows that more than half of daters have had positive experiences, dating apps have a long way to go in satisfying their customer base, as some users reported facing harassment or scams, according to the report. Peoples’ experiences also vary by race, gender and ethnicity, as well as household income and sexual orientation.

Pew reported that 57 percent of men report positive experiences compared to 48 percent of women, and 61 percent of LGB users have had positive experiences compared to only 53 percent of straight users.

On the flip side, about 48 percent of those who have ever used a dating site or app have experienced some type of harassment or abuse, including almost 38 percent who were sent a sexually explicit and unsolicited message over an app. Thirty percent said that someone continued to contact them even after they said they weren’t interested, 24 percent have been called an offensive name, and 6 percent have had someone threaten to physically harm them.

Dating apps also trigger both positive and negative emotions. Vast majorities have been both excited (79 percent) or disappointed (88 percent) at least some of the time by people they have seen on the platforms. Pew reports that feelings are the same for both genders.

A majority of respondents (55 percent) have also admitted to experiencing insecurity while using dating apps because of the lack of messages they receive, with 64 percent of men feeling this way compared to only 40 percent of women. The number flips when asked whether they feel overwhelmed by the number of messages they are receiving over dating apps, with 54 percent of women admitting to feeling overwhelmed compared to only 25 percent of men.

Women are also more concerned with dating app safety than men, with 57 percent agreeing that dating sites and apps aren’t a safe way to meet people. However, views on safety change with age; older users tend to think dating apps are less safe. Only 34 percent of those aged 65 and older think it’s safe to meet people on these platforms, compared to 45 percent of those aged 50 to 64, and 56 percent of adults under 50.

Still, the majority of respondents think dating app platforms make finding a partner easier, not harder, according to Pew.