Love in the time of coronavirus

How are Britons dating online?

Dating apps and sites are witnessing a huge surge in demand amid the pandemic as people eagerly seek comfort and familiarity. Dating players, on the other hand, have turned innovative to cater to the changing needs. This report delves into how COVID-19 has affected the online dating industry and the changes that may emerge from it. Businesses can leverage this data in their decision making.

It may be safe to say that the desire for human connection has never been greater than this year, with the pandemic forcing people indoors in what seems like a never-ending loop. For many, particularly singles, turning to virtual dating has been a life-saver, even if the talks are mostly restricted to texting or video calls. Like everything else, how has online dating transitioned amid the pandemic, and what are the new emerging trends, if any, that will redefine online dating as we know it? Piplsay polled 3,500 online daters in the UK to get some insights. Here is a summary of what we found:

Other Insights

• 56% of men have had meaningful connections with others amid the pandemic as compared to 44% of women
• 25% of Millennials and 20% of Gen Xers joined dating sites or apps since the pandemic started
• 57% of men would prefer video dating on their first date even in the future as compared to 43% of women

Survey Methodology: This Piplsay survey (powered by Market Cube) was conducted nationwide in the UK from December 12-15, 2020. We received 3,500 online responses from individuals aged 18 years and older.