55% of Bumble users say they are looking for “more meaningful relationships” to combat the loneliness they’ve felt during the isolation period.
The female-first social app predicts that 52% of its UK users will continue seeking a steady partner post-lockdown.
Bumble’s video chat feature has also seen more than a 40% rise in user activity during lockdown. This shift to video to meet people during lockdown has left a lasting imprint and is “here to stay”, according to a company statement.
The pandemic has also sparked a “slow love trend” that gives users more time to allow a romantic attachment to naturally flourish. The act of “digital intimacy”, such as sending private photos, is also expected to become more important by half of the respondents.
Bumble believes social distancing has “drastically changed” the way singles date and it released a number of new lockdown-specific features, including a virtual dating badge.
Naomi Walkland, Bumble’s Associate Director of Marketing, told the Daily Mail: “Whether it’s using Bumble for the first time to video date or planning your first meet post-lockdown, we’re seeing that people are slowing down and looking for more meaningful connections.
“Over the past two months, we’ve seen a big increase in video calls and we’ve recently launched in-app audio notes and a virtual dating badge that lets potential matches know you’re open to a video chat. This is part of our continued efforts to help people safely navigate the new world of virtual dating.”
happn also expects more singles will look to pursue serious relationships over the coming months, as company research showed they are longing for human contact.
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