Dating

What if your swipe actually led to “I do”? According to new data, meeting via a dating app is no longer just for hookups—it’s a long-term relationship engine. A report from The Knot shows more than a quarter of U.S. marriages now begin on apps. This signals a major shift in how love and commitment start in 2025.

Swipe left on five-year plans, shared values, and lists of deal-breakers? That’s the mindset behind “vibe dating,” a trend spotlighted by VICE. Instead of checking boxes, some Gen Z daters are leaning into one question: “Do we just feel good together?”

“Young people aren’t disinterested—they’re priced out.” That’s George Arison’s CEO of Grindr's bold argument. In a recent interview, he pushed back against the narrative that Gen Z is losing faith in dating. Instead, he says, it’s the overly monetized business models of many apps that are driving users away.

Arison points out that some dating apps charge for virtually everything—messaging, matching, visibility—making the free versions almost unusable. He claims Grindr has intentionally kept its free product “extremely robust” so that users don’t feel compelled to pay just to participate.

Have you ever dismissed someone who didn’t check every box—only to later wonder what might’ve been? Plenty of Fish’s 2026 trends suggest many singles are doing just that. Their new report, based on a survey of nearly 6,000 U.S. members, spotlights how dating is shifting toward authenticity, spontaneity, and embracing surprises.

Ever wish dating apps could match not just your type, but your vibe? Tinder’s latest update, released September 10, 2025, introduces “Modes”—new ways to connect depending on what you’re feeling or where you are. With Modes, you can switch between different matching styles, starting with Double Date Mode, College Mode, and the classic-style For You Mode. Tinder’s press release explains how this aims to give people more control over how they meet others.

Tinder’s latest campaign which launched August 25, 2025 is all about that thrill, chaos, and joy of having a crush. Called “Crush Feelings,” it’s designed especially for Gen Z to remind them that those sparks still happen—and often on Tinder. Tinder’s press release lays out all the details.

Tinder isn’t just selling matches—they’re selling moments. According to their own data, the app has facilitated over 100 billion matches globally to date. In 2024, nearly 16 billion Likes or Nopes were sent every week. That tells us people aren’t just swiping—they’re hoping, feeling, reacting.