66% of Users Don’t Trust Dating Apps to Keep Them Safe

Online dating apps have revolutionized how singles meet, placing a pool of eligible partners at their fingertips and allowing users to swipe on their own terms. But with all this convenience also comes an element of danger: A breeding ground for scams and menacing behavior.

Though dating app usage remains up, users are increasingly becoming aware of the possible threats lurking behind their screens. 

A recent DatingNews.com survey revealed that 66% of users don’t trust dating platforms to safeguard them against fraud and dangerous people. Daters want more protection and transparency, and it’s up to dating apps to meet the challenge. 

Do Dating Apps Fall Short on Safety?

When joining a dating app, no one goes into it thinking of being scammed or getting matched with a dangerous person. Singles use these platforms in hopes of finding compatibility, a long-lasting relationship, or even “the one.” Yet insecurity can put all of that at risk. 

Dating platforms aren’t typically praised for their security, and a majority of singles don’t believe apps do enough to protect them from malicious behavior. In fact, according to our survey, two-thirds of respondents expressed a lack of confidence in dating app security. 

Our results showed consistency across demographics in this consensus. Breaking it down by generation, Gen Z was the most skeptical out of the pack, with 71% admitting doubt in app safety. However, other generations followed close behind in agreement:

• Boomers – 69%
• Gen X – 63%
• Millennials – 62%

These figures show that mistrust exists across generations, suggesting a widespread failure to meet user expectations for dating apps. But what exactly do daters fear in the online space?

Online dating is saddled with uncertainty and risks, making safety concerns quite prominent among singles. With digital fraud on the rise, it’s no surprise that fraud has made its way to one of the most vulnerable online channels: dating platforms. 

From catfishing to harassment, respondents ranked these as their top safety concerns when navigating the online dating scene:

• Fake profiles and catfishing – 35%
• Romance scams or financial fraud – 16%
• Stalking or harassment – 17%
• Data privacy and personal information leaks – 13%
• Lack of violent criminal background checks – 16%

When comparing these concerns by gender, men and women differed in their concerns. Where men were more likely to fear romance scams, women feared the likelihood of fake profiles or stalking, showing the state of the landscape from two different lenses.

Red Flags Ignored

Our study also found that some daters don’t mind flirting with danger based on their dating choices. While a majority of users wish for better security measures, others are still willing to run into red flags on their own, ignoring clear warning signs from their matches. 

For example, nearly 1 in 5 singles have learned a date had a violent criminal past and still gave them a chance. Conversely, only 10% viewed this admission as a hard red flag.

These results suggest that a disconnect exists between what people say about safety and how they actually date.   

Support for Enhanced Security Features

Dating app safety has recently taken center stage for platforms, including Hinge, seeking to prioritize trust as much as profits amid industry-wide calls for better security measures. Our survey shows singles have made their stance clear: They want more security support.

As it happens, identity verification happens to be at the top of their list. According to our study, 81% of users say they are open to some form of verification for safer swiping. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents think all users should be required to verify their identity.

“The results of this survey demonstrate that consumers are increasingly supportive of dating apps putting in place processes that reduce their exposure to risks such as fraud, data theft, and other inappropriate behaviour,” said Simon Newman, Chief Executive Officer, The Online Dating and Discovery Association. “It’s particularly encouraging that messaging about the importance of ‘friction’ during the onboarding process is getting through.”

The overwhelming support for stricter identity requirements is evident. And users are calling for more enhanced security features, which include:

• Mandatory ID verification for ALL users: 57%
• Secure messaging with real-time flags: 41%
• AI-powered scam detection: 38%
• Third-party identification and background checks: 35%
• Faster human moderation: 34%

We’ll explore how support for enhanced features varied depending on gender and generational groups. When it came to implementing ID checks, our study showed consistent support across generations, with Gen Z (68%) leading the pack. 

While everyone was a bit more cautious on the use of AI and human moderation, secure messaging was quite popular, with Gen Z (48%) and boomers (45%) sharing the highest preference for the feature.

Surprisingly, Gen Z (51%) and boomers (54%) aligned again in calling for stronger app security and enhanced features, drawing higher numbers than other groups. The most hesitant group was Gen X, with 35% saying “maybe” depending on how intrusive the process is.

Men and women also agreed on the topic of added security, with 58% of women and 53% of men responding with “yes” when asked whether they’d be more likely to use an app with enhanced security.

However, men (31%) were far more likely than women (17%) to say they would pay for premium safety features. Instead, 42% of women believe these features should be free for everyone — a powerful signal to apps that trust can’t be paywalled.

Overall, more than 60% of users say they are open to paying for enhanced features, with more than half (53%) willing to give up ease of use and quick signups to implement extra identity verification steps. 

Daters’ Thoughts on a Post-Date Review System

Dating apps should be a safe space to connect, and integrating accountability and transparency can be the first step to providing the safety daters are seeking. In fact, 62% of respondents expressed support for some form of postdate review system to add transparency to the post-swipe experience.

Women were the most supportive of this potential addition, with 66% of women agreeing to it, compared to 56% of men. This aligns with the broader trend of women pushing for safety-first features in dating tech. On the other end, only 24% of respondents expressed opposition to adding a post-date review system.  

Support was also high across generations, excluding baby boomers. The table below shows how support varied based on generational group:

Overall, these results reveal the stark reality of dating app security and the apparent demand for more tools to safeguard users in this new era of online dating. 

“We know that more needs to be done. Fraudsters and other bad actors are opportunists and constantly look for ways to circumvent security processes. That’s why it’s so important for online dating apps to regularly review their approach to trust and safety and work collaboratively with others,” Newman added.

In 2025, daters don’t just want apps that promise matches. They want platforms that are willing to take extra precautions to protect, verify, and rate to deliver a more transparent and secure dating experience. Now is the time for dating apps to answer the call and revolutionize their security approach. 

Methodology

This survey was conducted by DatingNews.com in March 2025 via Pollfish, polling 1,000 U.S.-based adults aged 18 and older. The sample was balanced to reflect national demographics across gender, age, and region. 

Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. Where noted, generational cohorts were defined as: Gen Z: 18–27, millennials: 28–43, Gen X: 44–59, boomers: 60+. The margin of error is approximately ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.