Studies

Match Group announced that it partnered with research firm Ipsos to conduct a comprehensive study of daters in major markets, and found that overall daters feel positive about online dating.

Sixty-six percent of respondents said that online dating results were “as good or better” than meeting offline according to the study's press release, and 60 percent of respondents said that their online dating efforts have resulted in dates or developed into a relationship.

The report also found that people tend to prefer larger platforms with more people, with the idea that they have more choices when it comes to finding the right person. In fact, online dating is gaining more popularity around the world, with almost half (49 percent) of singles saying they have tried dating apps and websites. India and Turkey lead the way in usage, thanks to changing attitudes about dating, as well as parents using technology to find partners for their children, according to Ipsos.

Dating app Bumble found that more singles in India are practicing “dry dating” or dating while sober. In fact, the dating app expects this to be the number one dating trend in the country in 2023, thanks to young daters.

A recent poll taken by the app found that 24 percent of single Indians who drink say they don’t plan to do so on dates this year, even past dry January. When asked why, the majority (56 percent) said they wanted to get to know the other person “without being distracted,” according to The Economic Times.

Forty-five percent said they were choosing not to drink on dates to improve their health and wellness by consuming less alcohol.

A new study by eHarmony found that a whopping 90 percent of singles in the U.K. believe they are addicted to dating apps, with as many as 70 percent feeling depressed or anxious after using them.

According to the researchers, almost half (48 percent) said they check their apps as the last thing before going to bed, and roughly 39 percent said they check their dating apps first thing when they wake up. Nearly a third said they check them while at work (with 31 percent of men admitting to this compared to 25 percent of women), and 12 percent admitted to checking their dating apps while on a date.

Researchers also found that 55 percent of U.K. singles believe they spend too much time on dating apps, with an average of 55 minutes per person per day. eHarmony deduced that the average person is having about 6 conversations at any given time, and 8 percent might have as many as 15 conversations at once.

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.

Image: Tinder

Tinder announced the launch of its latest safety feature to address abuse over the app, dubbed “House Rules.”

Tinder users must agree to the list of house rules outlined in a 20-page safety guide before they can download the service. The guide highlights the app’s safety features, including photo verification, how to report and block abusive users, according to News.com Australia.

The guide also provides tips for dating in person, including advice to Tinder users to schedule a video call beforehand to “get a vibe for the other person” according to Global Dating Insights. It also provides tips like sharing details and location of the date with friends or family beforehand, and keeping track of drinks to avoid spiking.

Image: Bumble & Netflix

Dating app Bumble has teamed up with leading streaming service Netflix to launch a game that is themed around some of its most popular shows, including Emily in Paris, Squid Game, Selling Sunset, and Stranger Things, among others.

According to Netflix’s blog post, the new game called Netflix Nights In will challenge matches to find out how deep their knowledge goes about their favorite shows by answering questions like: “How much was Davina’s infamous listing in Selling Sunset?” In a twist, the game requires matches to answer the question before responses are revealed, and both will be able to see their compatibility based on their answers.

Stars from fan favorites like Ashley Park from Emily in Paris or Jonathan Daviss from Outer Banks will present new questions each week in the app, according to Netflix.