Survey Reveals Mobile Preferences Massively Impact Dating

A recent survey by All About Cookies highlights a surprising trend in the dating world—mobile operating systems can influence romantic decisions. According to the study, nearly a quarter (23%) of iPhone users find it a “dealbreaker” if a potential partner uses an Android device, evidenced by the notorious “green bubble” in text conversations.

The survey, conducted in July 2024, involved 1,000 adults and revealed that 22% of iPhone users look down on non-iMessage texts, which typically signal an Android user. This sentiment appears more prevalent among men, with 31% citing Android use as a potential dealbreaker, compared to 16% of women. While this can sound bizarre at first, there has always been a bit of a rivalry between Apple users and other mobile OS users – however, 23% is a much more significant number than expected.

On the other hand, Android users report feeling marginalized—52% said they’ve been made fun of by iPhone users, and 30% felt pressured to switch to iPhones due to peer influence. The friction between users of the two operating systems has led many to adopt third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp to improve cross-platform communication. In fact, 42% of respondents have used alternative apps to enhance their messaging experience.

On a technical level, the study also points out that different platforms can cause communication errors – which is a large part of the reason why users switch to third-party messaging apps. For dating sites, this potentially shows that offering better messaging options could actually provide better prospects for users – not only by hiding their device, but also ensuring that users don’t leave the site as soon as they find a decent match.