With this year’s cuffing season in full swing, in 2020 we’ve seen the use of dating apps on the rise, with the pandemic shaping how we navigate our relationships. This year dating apps have reported even higher online engagement than in previous years, and whether it is driven by social distancing, the cold weather or holiday spirit, there is no doubt that a significant part of this year’s cuffing season will take place on smartphone apps.
How has the popularity of dating apps increased?
According to data from OkCupid, daters sent more than 35 million intro messages in March, which is about 4 million more than in the same time frame last year. More than 90% of its users say they’re dating virtually. There’s also been a 5% increase in folks looking for long-term relationships and a 20% decrease in those looking for hookups.
There’s a huge group of online daters who are trying to go about their lives, and several months into the pandemic, people are still struggling with working from home, let alone how to look for love and build a relationship with someone through a screen and not actually meeting them.
Even before the pandemic, the number of adults who meet people online has significantly increased in recent years, and much of this growth can be attributed to the rise of smartphone dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr.
After outbreak of the virus and the ensuing lockdowns, the number of people using dating apps in the UK went through the roof. The pandemic has also accelerated relationships, with many couples having to move in together and form a social bubble to continue seeing each other.
Singletons have been using the pandemic to get creative with dates, with outdoor dates and zoom calls proving a popular option for socially distanced meet-ups.
How will this change the dating industry in 2021?
With many of us uncertain about how the pandemic will continue to affect all aspects of our lives in 2021, it is hard to predict what will happen in the world, let alone our love lives – as we all know how unpredictable that can be!
I can only personally predict that the use of dating sites will continue to increase. Since the beginning of the pandemic, connections and conversations with people who don’t live nearby have dramatically increased, with people setting their location preferences to ‘anywhere’ more than ever before.
I think this will increase the popularity of long distance relationships and allow people to move more out of their comfort zones. The Cornwall dating site is a great way to do this, and you can meet some new people along the way.
Online dating sites and dating apps have eradicated the pressure of rushing into meeting up with someone in person, and because of the pandemic restrictions that are in place, we have seen a rise in ‘slow dating’ – which is a blend of deeper conversations and more romance through digital and virtual dating. By using dating agency Cornwall, you will be able to make develop meaningful relationships and build the foundations with your date first, before you arrange to meet them in person.
