What to Expect from Online Dating in 2017

Tinder might have gotten a lot of action in 2016, but according to a recent article in The Washington Post, niche dating apps are poised to get more attention this year.

Research from online dating sites and apps have shown that the biggest increase in memberships and activity occur from New Year’s Day through Valentine’s Day. It’s the time when the most people are looking for love, or at least a few dates. Traditionally, people have gravitated to the bigger sites like Tinder or Match in the hopes of having the widest pool of daters to choose from. But this year, people are looking for new ways to connect.

Part of the problem according to the Post is that dating apps don’t necessarily lead to users getting more dates. It’s easy to swipe endlessly, but that doesn’t seem to translate to meeting in real life. In the past year, poor and flaky dating behavior has left a lot to be desired, and daters are increasingly frustrated.

Many online daters are tired of endless messaging and disappearing matches, and have started looking into alternatives to the online dating giants to more curated apps, such as Whim or How About We, which bypass all the messaging to get you to the date. Others are turning to niche dating sites for those with the same interests, political leanings, or religious backgrounds in order to find more like-minded relationships.

Still others are leaving online dating altogether, turning to meet-up groups and classes to meet people who share the same interests, and to meet in a more organic way.

One of the problems with online dating sites like Tinder is that while there is a lot of choice, there’s also a lot more competition. People swipe through profiles quickly, so it can be hard to capture someone’s attention with only a one-second glance at your main photo. Every picture you post matters in order to get noticed or “liked,” especially the one you choose as your introduction.

According to experts, 2017 is a year when daters are going to be looking for more meaningful connections, and not just mindlessly swiping, which is good news. If you’re looking for a change from Tinder or the big dating sites, you might want to check out more relationship-focused dating apps like Hinge, Bumble, or Coffee Meets Bagel. Hinge recently underwent a total revamp, dubbing itself “The Relationship App” to prove that its focus is on connecting people, not just swiping.

Regardless of your approach to dating in 2017, the consensus among experts is to try something different if your old approach isn’t working. Try a new dating app, or join a meetup group, or make sure you aren’t the one flaking out on meeting people in person. Schedule more dates, and see what happens.