“Ripple Effect” Becomes Important to Dating App Users, Survey Finds

The traditional idea of dating as a path to marriage is losing ground among India’s younger generation, with the overall concept of “Quantum Dating” taking hold. According to a recent survey by QuackQuack, India’s leading dating app, young daters increasingly view each connection not as a step towards a fixed outcome but as an exploration of multiple emotional and personal pathways – a change from how dating apps were traditially seen as a way to get single, disconnected matches.

This shift was observed in a survey of 8,974 users aged 18 to 27 from Tier 1 and 2 cities. Participants came from diverse professional backgrounds, including IT, healthcare, marketing, and content creation. Many respondents indicated that even short-lived or unsuccessful relationships contributed positively to their personal growth, reflecting a broader cultural movement away from outcome-focused dating.

Ravi Mittal, Founder and CEO of QuackQuack, noted, “It’s not just a buzzword; we are glad to see people are seeing dating as more than just a way to find love. They are finding themselves in the process.” The concept – which has been around as a general idea for quite a few years – is to be aware of the fact that dating can often be practice for a future, more suitable match if the current relationship doesn’t work out.

The survey also found that over 43% of respondents experienced what the app terms a “Ripple Effect” — matches that did not lead to relationships but still offered valuable personal insights. Many daters identified boundaries, deal-breakers, or unmet personal needs through these interactions.

In addition, 2,647 participants likened dating to Schrödinger’s Cat, believing that every match holds potential until explored. Meanwhile, 60% of users viewed their dating interactions as reflective of their personalities, offering self-awareness beyond relationship outcomes.

Notably, around 20% of respondents rejected the concept of a single soulmate, embracing the possibility of multiple meaningful relationships across different life stages. This shift suggests a growing acceptance of dating as a tool for self-discovery as much as for romantic connection, something that QuackQuack’s previous data may be backing up through the evolving norms of how the platforms are used.