How the Online Dating User Base Has Changed Through the Ages

Online interaction is currently at an all-time high. People are no longer afraid to use the web to find romance, friendships, or any other desired relationship. Of course, it wasn’t always this way — the online dating user base has evolved. 

But this didn’t happen overnight. Thanks to advancements in technology and cultural shifts, online dating changed from being just a niche activity people participated in out of boredom to a practical way to find connections near and far.

Technology fueled the rise of online dating and, as a result, made the dating process more convenient, inclusive, and widespread. Throughout this article, we’ll dive deeper into how social factors shaped online dating and what we can expect for the future. 

Online Daters Through the Ages

Online dating perspectives look different from generation to generation. It wasn’t until the 1990s that platforms such as Match.com led the way for singles to meet online. Match, eharmony, and other platforms leveraged the internet for romantic connections and made it possible for online daters to fall in like and love.

Since then, online dating has evolved, as the world has. Swiping apps Tinder and Hinge were created in 2012. Casual dating boomed, and the younger generation gravitated to a flexible and more non-traditional approach to dating. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take it generation by generation.

The Baby Boomer Experience

For older generations, online dating hasn’t really been a fan favorite. In fact, baby boomers were reluctant to find a partner outside traditional methods. Courting in the olden days consisted of face-to-face interactions. Anything outside of that was deemed odd or even unsafe.

Baby boomers are much more likely to be the victims of online frauds and scams, so it’s natural that they’d shy away from online spaces.

However, as the internet continued to populate, so did baby boomers’ interest. Technology became more accessible, and senior dating sites like OurTime and SilverSingles made space for seniors to connect in their comfort zones. 

Online dating offers widows and divorced singles another chance to get back into the dating game in their later years. And baby boomers are slowly coming around to it as a viable option.

The Gen X Experience

In the 90s and early 2000s, online dating was largely seen as a platform for desperate singles. While Gen X was more open to exploring online dating than baby boomers, they still were skeptical about meeting strangers online and were less likely to engage in online dating due to social stigma and unfamiliarity with digital technology.

However, the rise of the digital age became more tempting over time. Soon, success stories started to roll out from dating sites such as Match and eharmony. Gen Xers started seeing the possibilities of what online dating could do and gradually came around the idea that online dating is just another way to meet people. 

The Millennial Experience

Unlike previous generations, millennials saw the benefits of online dating. They approached online dating without much reservation and were the first generation to believe that they could meet their spouses online. 

Online dating was seen as convenient — especially during a time when singles started to become more busy with work and needed help in the dating department.  

Millennials came of age in the 2010s during the rise of swiping apps such as Tinder and Bumble, both of which were founded by millennials. The swipe feature changed the industry and attracted singles who wanted to move quickly through profiles and take action online. Millennials were the first to experience #swipelife, and they were the first to get into swipe fatigue and burnout, as well.

The Gen Z Experience

As you can already imagine, Gen Z grew up with smartphones and social media, so online dating is the norm for us. It’s a core part of modern dating culture now, for better or worse. 

Gen Zers swiping so frequently hasn’t been all good. There’s more of a casual vibe on the apps today, even on ones like Hinge that are supposed to be about relationships. This is why experts argue that there’s a tremendous decline in traditional dating and more blurry connections that we term “situationships.”

By the time Gen Z entered the dating scene, apps like Tinder had already been established and evolved in a way that all singles had to do was swipe. Gen Z started to crave instant gratification and became less interested in slow-burning relationships.

This often leads to what we know as swipe fatigue and dating burnout and prevents a lot of singles from finding meaningful connections. 

Changing Attitudes in the User Base

People’s attitudes toward online dating play a big part in its evolution. Put simply, how people date is constantly changing. 

Over the years, as people become more open to meeting people online, the more open-minded people become overall with dating. 

The user base is now more diversified and inclusive than it has ever been. It would be no surprise to see that as dating apps continue to evolve and include more resources for singles, so will its user base.

Hookup Culture

Hookup culture basically refers to a new attitude of dating that promotes casual sexual encounters such as one-night stands and situationships. 

While online dating once was a tool just used primarily to find romantic partnerships, hookup culture helped normalize casual connections via dating apps — making it a safe space for singles to explore these types of encounters with less stigma.  

Platforms such as Tinder, Bumble, and Grindr promote quick connections and ephemeral relationships. Their app design and features support hookup culture by allowing users to make quick and surface-level judgments solely based on physical attraction and location. 

With people having different dating expectations now online, users need to be upfront and share their intentions from the get-go. Given the reduced stigma surrounding casual encounters, there are more users who feel as though they can be more open and confident in expressing their desires. As a result, more and more singles are utilizing online dating to find these connections. 

Polyamory

Polyamorous relationships are one of the nontraditional relationships that have changed the online dating landscape. As attitudes toward relationships started to shift in a more fluid direction, more singles became open to the idea of having multiple partners. 

Younger generations (millennials and Gen Zers) are waiting longer to get married. Many view marriage as optional and are more willing to explore alternative forms of relationships such as cohabitation, open relationships, and polyamory. Monogamy is no longer the default. 

In response to growing interest, niche dating platforms were created for specific relationship styles. Platforms such as PolyMatchMaker and Feeld are for nontraditional relationships where partners can explore and build a polycule that works for them.

We’re living in a time when more users are seeking less traditional commitments – and online dating is making it easier for them to do so. 

Swiping as Self-Discovery

Online dating started as a way for users to search for a partner or companionship. But soon enough, it evolved and became more than just a means for finding a partner but rather for self-discovery. Oftentimes, people date for self-exploration and find out that by swiping on dating apps, they get one step closer to learning more about who they are as individuals. 

Through the act of swiping, users gain perspective on their likes, dislikes, and what they do and don’t want out of a partner. It’s a great way to test your boundaries and reflect on what areas you can grow in dating. Although swiping may seem superficial, it’s a form of self-discovery that forces users to learn more about their identity and desires. 

Privacy Concerns

With more singles utilizing online dating, people started to become skeptical of data privacy and online harassment. Rightfully so. We’ve seen instances of hacks, like the 2015 Ashley Madison data leak, and other examples of private information being handled improperly. Naturally, there’s a demand for online dating platforms to find better security measures for user’s safety and privacy. 

Users are more knowledgeable about the dangers of online dating and fear data misuse.

While dating platforms certainly have an ethical duty to create a safe and secure dating environment, it is also the user’s responsibility to ensure they are following community guidelines and reporting any sus behaviors. By doing so, users not only protect themselves, but others as well. 

A Push Toward More Inclusive Profiles

Profiles are a big deal for online dating platforms. Why? Simply because a profile nowadays has the same weight as a resume — if it’s eye-catching, you’ll get a callback. If not, well, you know the rest. That’s why it’s so important for singles to make the most of their profiles and show off who they are. 

But there’s just one problem with that — users feel limited in how they can express themselves on profiles. 

Early online dating platforms were often centered around traditional heterosexual dating, with little to no recognition of LGBTQ+ people, poly dating, and other nonbinary options. As you can expect, that exclusion caused an uproar from many singles. 

Today, many platforms acknowledge various sexual orientations and expand the user base for those singles outside traditional relationships to feel seen and validated during their search for partnership. 

Niche Dating Platforms

Mainstream dating apps like eharmony and Match are awesome, but they’re not everybody’s cup of tea simply because of how large the dating pool is. To narrow down the search, niche dating platforms exist so that people can find a community where they don’t feel like just another small fish in a big pond. 

Certain groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, now have plenty of inclusive dating platforms like Grindr and HER that focus on connecting people in this marginalized community. It makes the dating process simpler and safer. 

It can be very intimidating dating online, especially when there’s a fear of being treated maliciously based on factors such as your sexual orientation. Niche dating platforms offer a safer space by connecting you with like-minded people who are less likely to pass judgment and can potentially help you on your dating journey by offering support. 

LGBTQ+ Visibility and Acceptance

As I mentioned earlier, online dating was originally for traditional heterosexual dating. Online dating platforms needed to expand and include more visibility for communities such as LGBTQ+ singles.

Mainstream platforms such as Tinder, OkCupid, and Bumble are including more features to allow users to identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, or to select a wider range of sexual orientations.

LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance in online dating platforms have come a long way, but I think it’s safe to say that there is still work to be done. Platforms such as eharmony that changed its setup to allow same-sex and queer dating are pivotal for the progression of online dating in the future.

Stats Show It Makes a Difference

According to the Pew Research Center, there is an increased number of LGBTQ+ individuals using online dating platforms. Research shows that 51% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans have used a dating site or app, compared to 28% of straight American singles. Which is very telling of how evolved and accepting online dating is becoming. 

People no longer have to hide and put up a facade when creating their profile. Bisexuality, pansexuality, and other fluid sexual orientations are becoming more celebrated and visible in dating profiles. As a result, non-binary sexual orientations are being accepted by daters and dating apps alike.

The Future of Online Dating Is More Inclusive

Online dating has been around for a while and is nowhere near leaving us anytime soon — thank God. The next stages of online dating will more than likely evolve as technological advances and changing social attitudes toward relationships, identity, and intimacy occur. 

Despite the challenges that may be ahead, online dating is making sure that people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sexualities have a place for connection. Which is why the future of online dating looks promising. As users and developers continue to push for inclusivity in the dating world, singles will get to experience dating for what it is and not from a narrow-minded view. 

Whether you’re looking for a one-night stand, romance, or even your identity, online dating provides people with the opportunity to form authentic and fulfilling relationships that they may not find elsewhere.