How Election Conversations are Disrupting Dating
A recent survey from Dating.com, part of the Social Discovery Group, reveals that the upcoming presidential election is significantly influencing American singles’ dating behaviors. While this might not be a surprise on its own, the real discovery comes from how significant these changes actually are.
The study highlights that 72% of daters have engaged in politically charged conversations on dating apps since the June debate between President Biden and former President Trump. This trend is further underscored by a 15% increase in users adding their political affiliations to their dating profiles.
The survey also found that while 55% of respondents are generally open to dating someone with opposing political views, this drops to 49% during an election year. Additionally, 68% of daters are uninterested in pursuing relationships with those who don’t vote, even if those people are not directly politically opposed to them – with age not being as much of a factor.
Despite the prevalence of political discussions, 60% of Dating.com users seek online dating as a refuge from the omnipresence of politics. This naturally means that there are two big groups of users on most dating platforms – one side that really cares about politics, and one side that wants to avoid it for their own comfort.
Sabrina Bendory, a Dating & Relationships Expert at Dating.com, noted that political discussions have become an integral part of the dating landscape during election years. “You can’t underestimate the importance of fundamental compatibility in relationships, as no relationship can survive on chemistry alone. Value alignment is still atop the ticket in terms of what daters are looking for in their next match.”
“Politics are an unavoidable topic when it comes to meeting new people during an election year. These potentially divisive conversations really ramp up as citizens tune into debates and press conferences in the months leading up to an election. On Dating.com, we’ve seen a large uptick in icebreakers and discussions centered around politicized topics such as climate, women’s rights, healthcare, the economy, and more.”
