The COVID-19 pandemic has left a significant impact on many aspects of our life over the past year. The conditions of many businesses and industries have also varied accordingly, and the online dating market has not been an exception either.
Here we’re going to take a look at the changes in this market since the COVID-19 hit and discuss the prospects for the upcoming years.
The Online Dating Market Changes over the Last Year
The times of pandemic has made online dating services thrive. As people spend more time indoors, they tend to socialize and improve mental wellness by talking to new people on the internet. That’s why online dating has experienced a massive increase during 2020. Besides, dating platforms have become the most popular form of dating for homosexuals, so now a lesbian hookup site can indeed take on one of the leading positions in the global dating market.
The statistics show that around 82% of singles have started using online dating platforms thus the revenue in the dating segment reached US$3 billion.
On the other hand, the growing popularity of using smartphones and the spread of the faster and cheaper internet increases the demand for online dating services since people can expand their geographical reach and find matches in different locations. The number of dating app downloads has increased during the last year as well as the number of daily active users in the top 20 dating apps had reached 1.5 million in the US.
What Dating Niches Are Trending Now?
When social distancing is necessary for our health, niche matching has become a popular trend more than ever.
These changes have made things much easier for those interested in LGBTQ dating who prefer to join online communities with the same thoughts and interests. These adults have become mainly eager members of online dating services and had a positive experience. Niche marketing has helped them avoid some negative behaviors they used to see on some dating platforms.
Casual hookups are also turning into a common relationship strategy between many young adults and teenagers. Although some relationship scientists consider it a dangerous trend, casual dating has become a widely accepted relationship in many modern societies.
Moreover, the third of participants prefer to continue having virtual chats until they go on a date to meet someone in person. During the lockdowns, many individuals have used virtual chats to represent their pandemic lives. Many people have shared thoughts about the entire situation as a conversation starter for virtual dating.
How Will Online Dating Change in the Future?
Considering the positives and negatives of the new trends, it seems that some of the trends for dating during the COVID-19 pandemic will stick.
Consider the costs singles had to pay pre-pandemic to go out on a date with someone, especially in expensive cities such as New York. Going the virtual route, singles can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking the first steps of knowing each other online. In addition, most online platforms offer a free version, which is important for users during times of high unemployment.
From another point of view, the pandemic has been life-changing for all nations and has made people more cautious about health and safety measures. Some experts believe that many individuals will pay great attention not to shake hands with strangers, kiss them, or even hug after the coronavirus situation. This will lead to more significant popularity of online dating services even as life returns to normal since singles tend to know the person online in the first place. They will try to find out about their habits first and then meet face-to-face after making sure that they are in the right health conditions.
To Conclude
Looking at that more than half of singles now prefer using a reliable online dating service to meet the men or women they find interesting, it is clear that the global pandemic has positively affected the online dating market. It signals that the positive aspects of the digital world have paved the way for changes in the way people prefer to start a new relationship, which will last even after the pandemic.
You can find the original research publicly available at: https://bedbible.com/online-dating-statistics/