Dating apps and sites have witnessed a huge surge in demand this year as the pandemic forced people to seek comfort and familiarity amid the stress and isolation. Dating players, on the other hand, became more 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 17,000 online daters in the US to get some insights. Here is a summary of what we found:

Other Insights

• 61% of men have found online dating more meaningful amid the pandemic as compared to 39% of women
• 25% of Gen Zers and 22% of Millennials joined dating sites or apps for the first time amid the pandemic
• 35% of men and 25% of women would prefer video chatting on their first date even post the pandemic

Survey Methodology: This Piplsay survey (powered by Market Cube) was conducted nationwide in the US from December 18-20, 2020. We received 17,000 online responses from individuals aged 18 years and older.