Who Doesn't Swipe Right for Dating Apps?

When looking for love, some people turn to dating apps and websites—even Facebook is getting in on the action—but many would prefer to find love in a more traditional way.

According to a May 2018 survey by The Economist and YouGov, more than two-thirds of US internet users said they weren't likely to use a dating app, and close to half said it’s not likely at all.

Women were particularly averse to dating apps, with just 24% saying they were likely to use one. In contrast, 40% of men said they might tap into a dating app.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, older respondents were the least interested in online dating.

Interestingly, 55% of 18- to 29-year-olds, and 63% of 30- to 44-year-olds, said it’s unlikely they’ll use a dating platform to find a new partner.

The Economist/YouGov data mirrors other studies on this topic.

A January 2018 Morning Consult survey found more men (31%) have used a dating app or service than women (28%). Looking at age, 44% of respondents 18 to 29 and 37% of those 30 to 44 have tried to find love digitally.

Despite widespread reluctance to use dating apps, plenty of people do log in, and the number is expected to grow.

We forecast that 25.7 million US smartphone users will use a dating app at least once per month this year. By 2022, that figure will climb to 36.1 million.