Study Highlights Gender Imbalances and Expectations in Online Dating
A relatively new study published in PLOS One sheds light on why men face particular challenges on dating apps, pointing to structural gender imbalances and mismatched expectations as key factors shaping outcomes.
According to the research, led by Renata Topinkova of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Tomas Diviak of the University of Manchester, men are more likely to pursue partners rated as significantly more desirable than themselves, while women tend to take a more measured approach. The study analyzed activity from nearly 3,000 heterosexual users of a Czech dating app, revealing a consistent pattern: men swipe aspirationally, while women more often match laterally or even slightly downward in perceived attractiveness.
The result is a skewed marketplace in which attention is concentrated on a small number of highly desirable profiles, most of them women. Even men considered to be among the most desirable received fewer positive responses than women rated below average, highlighting how uneven the distribution of matches can be.
This aligns with broader demographic trends. Pew Research Center data shows that 63% of men under 30 in the U.S. identify as single, compared with 34% of women in the same age group. With men outnumbering women on many platforms, competition is particularly acute.
These pressures can contribute to what Match’s 2025 “Singles in America” survey describes as widespread dating burnout: more than half of respondents reported fatigue with the process, with men especially citing insecurity about low response rates. Earlier studies have also linked swipe-based apps to heightened anxiety and depression compared with non-users, suggesting the psychological toll of repeated rejection is real.
While desirability plays a central role, the study emphasizes that matches are more likely when both parties are closer in attractiveness and engagement levels, underscoring the importance of reciprocity over aspiration. As the authors noted, “The successful matching outcomes tend to align more closely with women’s preferences than with men’s. This likely reflects women’s stronger position in the online dating market, as men outnumber women and are often expected to make the first move.”
