Dating apps have become a social norm, to the point where people of all ages, backgrounds, and sexual orientations can find the type of relationship they desire. They aren’t for everyone, but with 10.4 million subscribers to Tinder alone, they are definitely here to stay.
Tinder is the one that comes to mind first when thinking about different types of dating apps. There is also a preconception about Tinder’s purpose and the type of people using it. Recent Tinder app statistics about user preferences and reasons for using Tinder show that the app isn’t exactly what the stereotypes lead us to believe.
Not All Tinder App Users Are There For Hook Ups
The general stereotype about Tinder is that it’s for casual sex and one-time hookups with no real connection. That’s fine if that’s what people need and all interactions are respectful and consensual. The idea of swiping right on people to easily sort through prospects is attractive to those looking for quick gratification with no strings attached. In fact, 4.8% of people responding to the iLuv Sugar survey said that swiping right was the best feature. 17.2% of people also said that they liked the way the app matched them with suitable people.
When asked why they were using Tinder, just 15.8% of people said for one-time hookups. The highest number, by far, was those looking for casual dating, at 34.5%. What this suggests is that while the majority of people aren’t there for anything serious, they are still trying to find someone for more than a one-night fling. They want the fun of meeting someone and spending time with them without serious commitments, perhaps with the options of romantic or platonic developments from there.
The responses about Tinder’s most hated features are also interesting with these figures in mind. While the desire for simple hookups was lower than expected, there was still barely any pressure to impress other users. Instead, users were more concerned with the lack of genuine information on user profiles and security issues. 22.3% of users said the worst thing about Tinder was misleading profiles. To be fair, this is going to happen on any dating site, as users fake their ages, put up old photos, and exaggerate other claims to get attention. It can be tough to trust that the person you’re agreeing to meet is who they say they are. Also, 17.6% highlight the risk of unwanted messaging. It’s unclear whether that’s people failing to take no for an answer, sending unsolicited images, or a combination.
Tinder Users Want Real Connections
The most surprising thing about this report is the desire for strong, lasting connections with other people. This is immediately apparent in the stats looking at why people use Tinder. 17.8 of those responding to the iLuv Sugar survey mentioned friendship as their primary reason for being on the site, while 3.8% said companionship. Whether that results in a romantic connection depends on the user, although 7.1% of people said that was the most important. That’s a lot of people who want to meet someone with similar interests without any focus on sexual attraction or gratification. It also suggests that many people may be on the app out of loneliness.
Beyond that, there’s also some telling information in the responses about what people hate about Tinder. The number one issue, with 25.4% of the vote, was a lack of genuine conversation. The term genuine is what makes this interesting. People are making connections with other users and initiating conversations. It just seems that those conversations aren’t going the right way. Perhaps people are too focused on making themselves seem attractive and worth dating, and they aren’t authentic in what they say. Maybe they talk the talk online but come across as trying too hard. It can be difficult to make natural conversation over an app when there’s no way to judge tone and context or read body language. That’s one of many reasons why people miss traditional dating in person, where they can at least see the other person’s facial expression, judge their tone, and get a better feel for who they are.
It’s also worth noting that in addition to a lack of genuine conversation, 14.5% of people felt there were too many time wasters, and 1.8% highlighted the risk of superficial connections. When users want true friendship and companionship as much as they apparently do on Tinder, they don’t want to be messed around with and have their hearts broken. That’s why 11.3% of people say the worst thing about the app was getting ghosted.
Why Else Do People Use Tinder?
A final point of interest when looking at these Tinder app statistics is the slight shift toward non-monogamous relationships that aren’t casual dating or hookups. Tinder explored the preferences of its younger users and found a trend toward polyamorous relationships.
These consensual relationships involving more than one partner are more socially acceptable among Gen Z users, with 26% of them seeking hierarchical polyamory relationships. This is interesting when only 0.9% of total users claim to be using the app for that. The set-up of the app and the ability to match with different types of people makes Tinder appealing to those in this situation. 5.3% said that the variety of people online was their favourite thing.
What’s The Future Look Like For Tinder?
The great thing about the Tinder app is that it isn’t what non-users expect it to be. Those who refuse to go on dating apps or are happy in long-term relationships may still see Twitter as the complete opposite of what they’re into. Yet, the stats for those seeking long-term relationships and companionship show that isn’t the case. That doesn’t mean there aren’t thousands of young people swiping for hookups right now. There just aren’t as many as you probably thought. As for the future, as long as Tinder can stay appealing to people of different needs and control issues of security and unwanted messaging, users are likely to stick around.
