According to a survey polling 5,000 people who had dated actively in the past five years, conducted by Forbes Health in August 2023, 70% developed a stable relationship with someone they met on a dating app. Meanwhile, 28% weren’t as successful. Men were more likely to have built an exclusive relationship (75%) with someone they met on a dating app, compared to 66% of women. Surprisingly, older people were the most successful with online dating – 72% of individuals aged 43 to 58 said meeting through technology led to a romantic relationship. On the minus side, Pew Research Center data suggests dating has become harder. Just under 50% of Americans say dating is more difficult now than it was a decade ago.
Evaluating Long-term Relationship Stability
Effective communication is fundamental for the success of any relationship. Stable relationships are those where people can resolve conflicts constructively. Both partners are able to express their needs and feelings without fear of judgment. This open communication fosters understanding and helps build a strong emotional connection.
Trust forms the foundation of a stable relationship. It involves being reliable, consistent, and faithful to each other. Trust is built over time through consistent actions that demonstrate dependability and honesty. Without trust, a relationship can struggle to survive in the long term.
Partners need to be compatible in terms of values, goals, interests, and lifestyle preferences. This is why dating apps like Hinge and some Hinge alternatives match based on things people have in common. Fundamental incompatibilities may lead to conflicts and challenges in the long run. For instance, differing views on major life decisions, such as having children or career aspirations, can create significant hurdles.
Partners in long-term relationships stay together because they are willing to invest time, effort, and energy into them. Commitment involves prioritizing the relationship and working together to overcome obstacles. This dedication often manifests in everyday actions and decisions that reflect a commitment to the relationship’s growth and stability.
Some dating apps match according to the attachment style, which determines the degree of emotional intimacy. This is the emotional connection between partners, characterized by trust, vulnerability, and empathy. Emotional intimacy allows partners to feel secure and supported, enabling them to share their innermost thoughts and feelings.
In stable relationships, partners share similar values, life goals, and visions for the future. Having common ground can strengthen their bond and provide a sense of direction for the relationship. This alignment helps partners navigate life’s challenges together and make unified decisions.
In a 2023 BetterHelp survey of more than 1,000 Americans, almost half (47%) reported feeling stressed in relation to their love lives. People who were married were less likely to feel stressed. Gen Z members were most affected, with 70% reporting feelings of stress. Boomers were at the other end with just 27%. Millennials and Gen Xers were in the middle, with 57% and 49%, respectively. These statistics highlight the varying impact of relationship stress across different age groups.
The Best Apps for Building Serious Relationships
This section contains a roundup of dating apps with a reputation for fostering long-term relationships, an active user base, and different interests to suit users’ unique needs and varying preferences.
Hinge
Hinge does an excellent job of providing prompts for unique conversations, helping bring otherwise static profiles to life. The app is not based on swiping left and right, which is a good thing. According to a recent cross-sectional study of 475 adults, those who used swipe-based apps were more likely to feel depressed, distressed, and anxious. By providing creative prompts to respond to, Hinge eliminates decision fatigue. This approach encourages more meaningful interactions and helps users find compatible matches based on shared values and interests.
OkCupid
OkCupid had over 70 million users in 2023. The best features, including travel mode and location sorting, are free. It is the sixth most downloaded dating app worldwide. It’s also a highly inclusive app, with numerous options for sexuality, gender, and relationship types. It aims to connect like-minded users. When you sign up, you’re asked detailed questions about your hobbies, relationship preferences, and political views. Unlike most other apps, the app places users’ values front and center so they can get any relevant deal breakers out of the way as soon as possible. This focus on compatibility and shared values helps users find more meaningful connections.
Match
Match is one of the oldest dating sites. It has facilitated 92,000 marriages since its launch. Some of the questions when registering are basic, but it’s still advisable to provide as much information as possible because your matches will be better. Match’s long-standing reputation and extensive user base make it a reliable option for those seeking serious relationships. The platform’s detailed profiles and comprehensive matching algorithms help users find compatible partners based on a wide range of criteria.
Bumble
Bumble gives women more control – they make the first move in what is a unique approach to facilitating serious relationships. Once there’s a match, the other person has 24 hours to reply, establishing a sense of urgency. This approach empowers women and encourages more respectful and intentional interactions. Bumble’s focus on promoting equality and safety in online dating makes it a popular choice among users looking for serious relationships.
Addressing User Concerns and Emerging Trends
Users have expressed concerns that dating apps are intentionally flawed to perpetuate ongoing subscriptions to premium services. Research suggests that online dating has reduced the likelihood of individuals dating outside of their perceived “attractiveness level,” a phenomenon exacerbated by the visual-first approach common to most dating platforms. Despite criticisms, dating apps have become the primary method for singles to connect, with around three in ten U.S. adults using these platforms, escalating to six in ten among unmarried Americans under 50.
In response to the isolation experienced during COVID-19, users increasingly seek platforms that facilitate real-life meetings. To address these demands, Tinder has launched the Single Summer Series, hosting events aimed at reducing the pressures associated with one-on-one dates. Likewise, Bumble’s initiative Bumble IRL offers similar real-life interactions, while Hinge announced a $1 million fund dedicated to enhancing in-person connections for Gen Z users. However, despite these efforts, some apps, like Hinge, grapple with criticisms due to their popularity, which can lead to overcrowding and diminish their distinctiveness.
Coffee Meets Bagel offers a contrasting approach, limited daily matches to prevent user overwhelm. Although aiming to deliver higher-quality matches, it remains subject to criticisms around actual face-to-face meeting rates. Users feel that despite the platform’s intentions, the transition from online interactions to real-life dates remains insufficiently supported by app functionalities.
Platform-Specific Challenges
Each dating app faces specific challenges that affect user experiences. eHarmony, despite its scientific approach and satisfaction guarantee, markets predominantly to users looking for serious, long-term relationships. Coffee Meets Bagel’s focus on curated matches and ice-breakers, though innovative, can result in user confusion and perceived gimmickry. Tinder’s strength in facilitating casual encounters and easing new users into online dating is overshadowed by issues related to superficiality and declining engagement rates.
The decline in engagement across these platforms indicates that users are actively seeking better alternatives. This shift is reflected in the feedback provided by users and the stock performance of major app owners like the Match Group. Furthermore, the resignation of industry leaders and frequent rebranding efforts signal that even within companies, there is an acknowledgment of the need for evolution in dating app functionalities and user offerings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mainstream dating platforms like Hinge, OkCupid, Match, and Bumble provide varied approaches to online dating, each facing unique criticisms and challenges. As users demand more meaningful and efficient ways to connect, emerging platforms may offer solutions better aligned with evolving user expectations. These alternatives aim to bridge the gaps identified in mainstream platforms by addressing specific pain points such as user overwhelm, superficiality, and the efficacy of transitioning from digital connections to real-world interactions. As the dating app landscape continues to evolve, those dissatisfied with mainstream options have a growing array of alternatives that may better meet their needs and preferences. By focusing on long-term relationship stability and addressing user concerns, these platforms can enhance the online dating experience and help users form lasting connections.
Photo by Gabriel Bastelli:
