Key Takeaways

BLK, a dating and lifestyle app for Black singles, recently surveyed thousands of people in its demographic to learn more about the state of the Black dating scene. The full report predicts how everything from gender roles to kinks to online dating will fare among Black singles in 2025.

The findings show a general shift toward open-mindedness and self-expression. Based on the thousands of respondents, it’s clear that many Black singles would welcome a dating platform that emphasizes individuality, diversity, and community.

A majority of surveyed Black singles said they also value self-care and mental health more than ever, and even believe that therapy is essential to a healthy relationship. Specifically, 86% of Black singles surveyed said they believe that therapy plays a key role in relationship satisfaction. This perspective on mental health marks a significant shift from previous decades. The Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health explained that Black Americans are usually less likely to prioritize mental healthcare, mainly because of the stigma that mental illness is a physical or moral failing. This is a stigma that still persists among older generations of Black Americans, according to a study published in the NLM.

It’s worth pointing out that socioeconomic disadvantages, as well as discrimination in medical spaces, also contribute to the stigma associated with mental illness in the Black community.

Couples counseling and individual self-work are just a few forms of therapy that BLK’s survey respondents said they value. The point, according to BLK’s report, is for therapy to help couples and individuals alike strengthen their emotional intelligence. It’s all connected to what BLK predicts will be a common conversation among Black singles and daters this year. The report says that Black couples want to dialogue about “relationship therapy, self-care, and emotional vulnerability” in 2025.

Representation Is More Important Than Ever

Black singles have not always been encouraged to stand out. BLK’s report predicts a new dating era for Black singles who value individuality and authenticity. Many are tired of swiping through dating apps that lack diversity. Representation — having access to a diverse community of Black singles — matters greatly, according to BLK’s respondents. While 70% of Black singles feel represented in mainstream media, fewer feel represented on dating apps. One in 3 Black singles told BLK that the average dating app doesn’t accurately reflect their experience.

“One thing I wish people understood about dating as a Black single is that it’s not a monolith — our experiences are diverse, nuanced, and deeply personal,” one BLK user wrote. This user emphasized how Black women “are just looking for a partnership where they can feel safe, loved, and supported” without being judged for being “too independent” or “too strong.” They added that Black men often deal with “pressures around masculinity and providing, making vulnerability difficult.”

With stereotypes and preconceived judgments to deal with, Black singles need a dating platform that allows them to express themselves freely.

The Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health reported that Black adults are more likely to experience “persistent emotional distress,” including the “feeling like everything is an effort.” BLK reported similar findings when it emphasized the need for Black singles to have a dating space where they can express themselves freely and without judgment.

And it isn’t unusual for Black singles to feel judged for being their authentic selves on dating apps, according to BLK’s study. Black singles in the survey — 80%, to be exact — said they often feel judged in dating spaces because of their self-expression or their dating goals. And yet, 69% agreed that being authentic about one’s personality is essential on dating apps.

 Black Singles Want Dating Platforms That Embrace Authenticity

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Robin D. Stone explained the importance of identity, especially when it’s freely expressed. “As Black people, we often talk about code-switching to adapt to the environment we’re in,” she said. “There is a time and place for that, but we also owe it to ourselves to be ourselves wherever we are,” she advised in Psychology Today.

This is especially important within the dating space, where the goal is to show a potential partner who you are and what you want. “Owning our identity means recognizing and celebrating our culture, individual stories, collective stories, and values. All of that factors into what makes each of us unique. It also gives us common ground and a collective sense of purpose,” Stone said.

BLK also found that Black singles can stand out on dating apps by emphasizing their tastes in music and fashion, as well as their career goals. It would help, BLK says, if dating apps had features that encouraged Black singles to embrace their culture, their passions, and their hopes for the future.

Time and experience may help smooth the transition into the dating scene, BLK posits; 53% of Black Gen Z daters reportedly feel that code-switching is a necessity in the dating world. BLK predicts that the push to eliminate code-switching and focus on authenticity will only get stronger as Gen Z ages. When more Black singles find community on dating apps, more authentic connections can be made.

BLK shared this sentiment in one of its predictions for 2025: “As representation grows, expect more inclusive dating spaces and platforms catering to authentic self-expression without judgment.” For Black singles, inclusive dating spaces and platforms can’t come soon enough.