Online dating in the COVID-era redefined young singles’ #relationshipgoals. Video chatting, voice calls, and audio memos became the new normal for people using online dating apps last year, and as awkward as virtual/online dating sounds, it helped a lot of young singles form connections. According to new data from Hinge, 65% of the platform’s users who have been on a video date say they’re likely to continue using video chat as part of their dating process, even post-pandemic—something YPulse predicted would outlast quarantines. Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, Hinge, and more dating apps surged in downloads last year, along with users’ engagement levels: Tinder users saw an average of 11% more swipes and 42% more matches in 2020. YPulse’s Finding Love Post-COVID trend data found that 43% of single 18+ have been dating exclusively on apps/sites since the start of COVID-19. While summer 2021 has been dubbed “hot vaxx summer,” Hinge reports that 75% of users say they’re seeking a relationship, 80% of OkCupid users are looking for a steady partner post-pandemic, and more than half of Bumble users feel less willing to compromise on what they want from a potential relationship. (The Drum)
