New Tinder Study Finds Dating App Behavior is Changing in India

Tinder released a new study of dating app users in India, finding that their attitudes and behavior are changing, particularly in the last year as people grappled with dating during a pandemic. The company found that users engaged with each other over the app 32 percent longer compared to this time last year, and nearly half had video chatted with a match.

The company’s Future of Dating report also found that individual engagement on its app had increased – with swipes up 11 percent and matches up 42 percent per user over the same period.

The study points out that many of India’s dating app users are younger and aren’t necessarily looking for anything serious, a shift from the traditional marriage-focused dating culture. In fact, 62 percent of respondents said they wanted to “see where things go” when it comes to meeting new people and weren’t comfortable conforming to society’s expectations of dating. 

More people than ever have embraced dating apps this past year thanks to lockdowns, and they’ve looked to connect in other ways, such as through virtual dating. Gen Z daters have typically been more drawn to using dating apps to meet, and make up a large percentage of the dating population in India.

According to APN News, nearly 68 percent of those surveyed for the study found it easier to make connections online, 67 percent found making virtual connections “liberating,” and 60 percent of singles felt less judged while interacting over dating apps. In fact, mentions of the word “anxiety” on these apps grew by 31 percent, “boundaries” rose by 19 percent, and “consent” by 11 percent, showing that users are more willing to speak freely about their issues and concerns.

The pandemic was also a subject of the survey, with participants weighing in about their mask wearing and dating habits, and how it affected meeting someone in person. Daters were far more interested in doing something active rather than meeting for lunch or drinks, with mentions of “roller skating” and other date activities increasing 300 percent over the app.

Singles are also more cautious about meeting in person, with 66 percent saying they want to know their date follows masking protocols before meeting. Sixty-six of respondents said they remain six feet apart when meeting a date. On the other hand, daters seem to be eager for some type of physical contact, with mentions of “cuddle” increasing by 23 percent and “hand holding” by 22 percent.

The study was based on a survey of 2,000 single Tinder app users in India.