How Generation Z (Gen z) perceives online dating in India
According to a survey, dating apps nowadays serve more than just romantic purposes. Nine out of ten Gen Z Indians are using online dating to meet new people, to hang out with and to build connections with others after a protracted period of social isolation and distancing brought on by pandemic restrictions. They are not necessarily concerned with finding love on these apps, however.
These are the results of a recent survey conducted by Tinder. One of the main causes of this is the increased loneliness among young people since the pandemic's outbreak. According to the survey, every third Gen Z Indian responded that they feel lonely because they don't have enough social interactions (35%); and that they feel as though their entire lives have been put on hold (34%).
The popularity of online dating has increased over the past year, and 47% of Indian singles claim that they feel more creative in the virtual world now than they did in 2020. About 68% of Gen Z Indians concurred that connecting with new individuals online was liberating and that it was simpler to form bonds.
As pandemic restrictions have loosened, up to 3 in 5 Indian singles also say they are eager to interact with and experience real-world situations. Simple pastimes like going for a stroll in the park (37%), preparing meals with family or friends (31%), and engaging in outdoor activities (25%) could be included in this. Approximately 36% of singles want to match with someone who has a sense of humor, while 32% want to meet movie buffs, while 41% of singles are open to matching with a foodie.
A recent survey of single Indians found that 62% of them prefer casual dating or friendship with the possibility of romance over committed relationships. Instead of following society's dating rules, users took advantage of the pandemic to seek out more long-term relationships.
The bad news is that, given shifting social norms and a general increase in online activity, online dating is going to be in the picture for a very long time. The good news, however, is that individuals are starting to create apps that help individuals find committed, fulfilling relationships. Dating apps should be focused on getting you off the app by displaying potential matches you're actually compatible with, rather than keeping you "on the hook" with endless matches and profit-driven data farming.
While many people are wary of finding love on dating apps due to worries about women's and queer people's safety or the perception that they only offer casual hookups and no honest connection, there is no denying that these services have altered the dating-verse.
While some, like Bumble, have changed the conversation about dating by giving women more agency, others, like Hinge and OKCupid, allow people to openly list out their sexuality, ideologies, sexual preferences, and other visible attributes when looking for a partner. Additionally, because they can type while hiding behind a screen, people who struggle with social anxiety are now able to speak more candidly.
At least 10 years have passed since dating and hookup apps became widely used in the year 2022. In that time, we've discovered that using dating apps more frequently doesn't always result in better dates, but as Gen Z enters the market, it will have the opportunity to reject platforms that only want to provide users with the dopamine rush of a match in exchange for user data. Now that the big dating apps and phones have been eliminated, Gen Z can go on dates with potential matches.
