I’m sure many of you have heard a buzz as it related to online dating. You’ve heard stories from friends/family, read things online, and come to your own conclusions. I did a search on the real online dating statistics and I was really pleased with what I learned. Below are some of the biggest takeaways I found and my thoughts about them.
Let’s start with the overall numbers. Worldwide, there are 323 million users, 44 million in the United States. This number is projected to increase to 53 million by 2025. No matter which way you slice it, that’s a lot of people.
Bumble recently reported a whopping 100M users! See the news story here.
I won’t get into this now, but my opinion is that any (maybe all) negative feelings about online dating boils down to perspective and attitude. I’m pretty sure out of all those millions of people there is one person who is right for you.
Tinder is most popular with those under 30. Over 30, Match.com seems to be the go-to.
Tinder has the reputation for being a “hookup” app, but I’m sure not all its 20M users only have casual hookups I mind. Especially since only 25% of online daters are not looking for a commitment, the other 75% are.
Don’t forget, users create the experience. That means you! Make each of these platforms your own. If you’re over 30 and want to use Tinder, go for it! Change the statistics if you want. Be a trailblazer! It’s free, so there’s nothing to lose.
I can say from my work as a profile writer, these numbers correlate with my service and which platforms I most often write for.
“54% of Online Daters in the US say relationships that come from online dating are just as successful as ones that begin in person.”
And why shouldn’t they!? In my opinion, online dating is meeting in real life. Online dating is still a human experience. And, ultimately we meet people outside of online dating anyway. The goal of online dating is to get offline, i.e real life.
What difference does it make if you walk into a bar and meet a person or if you walk into an online dating platform? It’s still a pool of people. Chances are exactly the same, and maybe more so online since you have a bio to go along with the human you’re looking at. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk into a bar and see a personality summary attached to each person? It would help you decide who to talk to. Well, you can do that with online dating.
Here’s great news: “98% of Online Dating Users Claim to Be Truthful.”
Statistically, I’m not sure what “claim” means, but it still bodes well for the integrity of online dating. Given that the majority of people do want to find a genuine connection, it’s a great thing that people want to go about it honestly. After all, the promise of a long-lasting relationship is unlikely if the foundation is built on lies.
“Almost 50% of users aim for marriage.”
I would venture to guess that many people end up married even it wasn’t initially on their mind. Marriage is only one type of relationship, lots of people are happy with a committed marriage that isn’t marriage.
This also correlates well with what I know to be true with my clients. The majority are ultimately looking for a solid marriage and someone they can build a future with. At the very least, a long-term committed relationship is in the intent. Very few say they are only looking for something casual.
Even though many who are looking for marriage as their end goal they are also hoping to take things slow. Maybe you can relate. While many want to be marries, they want to take the time to meet people and find the right person for them. Something to keep in mind as you approach your journey or making judgements call when thinking about how others approach theirs.
If you’re curious to know more about who my clients are, I wrote a post on that as well. Read it HERE.
“Women Are More Likely to Care About Profile Information Than Men.”
As a profile writer this one is near and dear to my heart. I believe everyone should care! The individual outcome of the online experience varies from person to person. Why not start with the one thing you can for certain control? Your profile is the one thing you can 100% control. Might as well start by getting it right. Something I will help you with.
Here’s another fun fact about Tinder. Statistically there’s a higher percentage of men on Tinder than women. With this competition, it’s extra important to have a well-written, thought-out profile. Guys, if you don’t put in the effort, you’ll get passed over. That’s how it works.
Other platforms like Match.com had more of an even gender split.
One of the downsides to online dating are the scams. Ladies tend to be a target for these online creepers, especially if you’re over 40. They’re after your money. If a potential love match asks for money, say no and walk away.
All you have to do is be smart! Use your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, then don’t engage.
Catfishing (and now what’s called reverse catfishing) does exist.
Beware Of Online Dating Scams and
How and Why To Background Check Your Dates.
If you’d like to take your own deep dive into these statistics you can visit these pages.
Cloudwards and Bedbible.
Overall, online dating is not going away, and the studies have shown reasons to be positive about it. If you’re someone who’s tried online dating, but struggled, consider giving it another shot. If you’ve never tried it and you’re on the fence, it can’t hurt to try.
Have a good attitude, be open-minded, be smart, be patient. In my personal experience, there were many times I gave up and took a break. After the break was over, I thought, what have I got to lose? If I didn’t have that attitude I wouldn’t be where I am today. Happy and with the right person for me. I also know five couples close to me who began their journey online. All married, all happy.
