Survey: Despite The Popularity Of Online Dating, 75% Of Singles Want To Meet IRL

We’ve all seen a rom-com meet-cute. A soon-to-be couple accidentally touches hands while reaching for the same item at a grocery store. Or ends up covered in coffee when one person literally runs into the other on their walk into work. Or gets into an argument during a minor case of road rage. The best meet-cutes in movies happen under dubious circumstances, often at the most awkward or embarrassing moments of the characters lives.

In real life, most of us would prefer to meet our future partners under better conditions, and thanks to online dating, these love-at-first-site meetings are becoming a thing of the past. According to an article published by Stanford University in 2019, matchmaking is now done primarily by algorithms. Today’s heterosexual singles are more likely to meet a romantic partner online than through personal connections. But is that actually what we want?

A survey conducted by The Inner Circle says no. Of the 2000 singles polled by the dating app, 7 in 10 (70%) said it’s now more common to meet online, yet 3 in 4 (75%) said they would still rather meet their significant other in real life. They gave a variety of reasons for prefering the IRL meet-cute over a swipe or click:

• 62% said meeting in person is more natural
• 58% said meeting in person means you can get to know each other better
• 38% said it’s more romantic
• 27% said it gives you a better story to tell

There’s just one problem: no one is doing it. On average, the singles polled by The Inner Circle said they only approach someone they’re interested in offline once every 2.4 years. Only 3 in 10 singles said they had been approached by someone in the last 3 months. Their reasons were based in fears and insecurities:

• 61% feel nervous when approaching someone IRL
• 50% feel anxious
• 45% fear being rejected
• 44% are worried about embarrassing themselves
• 30% are concerned the other person might already be in a relationshp
• 30% lack confidence in their flirting skills

So although most of us want to meet in real life, most of us are too scared to take a chance on it. The Inner Circle’s solution to this meet-cute conundrum is singles parties. These aren’t the painfully awkward speed dating events you see in films — these are a modern take on an old-school idea, where the venues are trendy, the guests are screened for quality and the parties take place all over the world.

“Our research told us people want a party vibe that doesn’t feel like a singles event,” said Oceane Krugel, The Inner Circle’s Global Events Manager. “They don’t want forced interaction like speed dating or pairing games. In fact, lots of people said they’d prefer big events, like festivals or gigs, just for single people that provide a more natural meet-cute.”

To see for yourself how The Inner Circle is giving singles parties a much-needed makeover, find the next event near you.