Gen-Z Have “Complex” Feelings About Openly Using Dating Apps
Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have become common tools for finding love in the digital age. Yet, for many young people, using these platforms comes with mixed feelings and a complex kind of shame. A growing number of Gen-Z singles admit they feel hesitant to rely on apps for dating and even more uncertain about sharing how they met their partner online, according to a dating expert working with Popsugar.
Gen-Z daters often seek more meaningful connections and are frustrated by superficial swiping culture, something that has become increasingly more apparent in recent weeks as users become extremely focused on authentic and real-feeling online relationships. Many young people long for the romantic spontaneity of “meet-cute” moments popularized by rom-coms, which many apps seem to lack, and that craving for a natural meetup makes dating apps artificial by comparison.
However, since dating apps are obviously an incredibly convenient dating option and an easy way to find potential matches, many users turn to them regardless – any simply pretend that they haven’t. While many prefer meeting others naturally and treat dating platforms like a “last resort” if nothing else works, others use them and avoid any social shame they might feel by never mentioning it openly.
This may also be part of why AI has seen such heavy use among Gen-Z users and why voice notes are becoming more popular – one removes the embarrassment of typing out profiles and messages yourself, and the other enables a more natural way to interact with matches akin to a one-sided phone call.
Lingering stigma may also play a role. Hope Flynn, founder of the empowerment community So What?, explained to Popsugar that some still associate online dating with a user being desperate, and that this can make “sharing “how we met” stories feel less magical or even completely lacking in romance. However, with dating apps being more popular than ever, it might only be a matter of time before these attitudes change.
