We asked people to tell us about their year in dating.
Here's what they had to say.
Here's what they had to say.
Dating apps are very popular, but are one of the least preferred ways to date
What portion of your first dates were set up through dating apps in 2018?
Half or more
82%
Less than half
18%
40%
of people set up all of their first dates through apps in 2018.
How would you prefer to meet the next person you have a relationship with?
| Setup from friend or family | 30% |
| At a party | 24% |
| Doing a hobby | 24% |
| At a bar | 11% |
| Dating app | 9% |
| At work | 2% |
Top 5 dating apps used this year, and what percentage used them (excluding Bounce)
| Bumble | 73% |
| Hinge | 73% |
| Tinder | 63% |
| The League | 34% |
| Coffee Meets Bagel | 29% |
Women interested in men
| Hinge | 82% |
| Bumble | 75% |
| Tinder | 46% |
| The League | 40% |
| Coffee Meets Bagel | 31% |
Men interested in women
| Bumble | 77% |
| Tinder | 75% |
| Hinge | 72% |
| Coffee Meets Bagel | 33% |
| The League | 27% |
Men interested in men
| Grindr | 95% |
| Tinder | 92% |
| Chappy | 72% |
| Bumble | 54% |
| Scruff | 51% |
Women interested in women
| Bumble | 80% |
| Tinder | 80% |
| Her | 60% |
| Hinge | 60% |
| The League | 50% |
Women interested in anyone
| Tinder | 71% |
| Bumble | 50% |
| Hinge | 50% |
| The League | 35% |
| okCupid | 29% |
* Some gender and preference groups omitted due to insufficient data from individuals in those groups.
Politics is the top dating deal breaker
62%
of people considered political views to be a dealbreaker.
Top 5 dealbreakers when deciding to go on a first date with someone
| Political Views | 62% |
| Body Type | 57% |
| Age | 46% |
| Where They Live | 44% |
| Height | 38% |
Women interested in men
| Political Views | 65% |
| Height | 55% |
| Age | 53% |
| Education | 45% |
| Body Type | 43% |
Men interested in women
| Body Type | 75% |
| Political Views | 53% |
| Where they live | 43% |
| Age | 34% |
| Religion | 24% |
Men interested in men
| Body Type | 67% |
| Political Views | 59% |
| Where they live | 51% |
| Age | 51% |
| Height | 28% |
Women interested in women
| Political Views | 90% |
| Body Type | 60% |
| Where they live | 50% |
| Height | 40% |
| Age | 40% |
Women interested in anyone
| Political Views | 80% |
| Age | 60% |
| Height | 40% |
| Where They Live | 40% |
| Education, Job, Body type | 33% |
* Some gender and preference groups omitted due to insufficient data from individuals in those groups.
Straight men and women differ significantly in some deal breakers
| Straight Women |
Straight Men |
|
|---|---|---|
| Body Type | 43% | 75% |
| Height | 55% | 18% |
| Education | 45% | 22% |
| Job | 43% | 13% |
People want to date more in 2019
Do you want to date more or less in 2019?
More
75%
Same or less
25%
36%
of people want to date much more.
1
Average number of first dates per month in 2018.
What was the maximum number of people you were simultaneously dating this year (going on dates, but not in an exclusive relationship)?
0
11%
1
17%
2
40%
3
24%
4+
8%
Ghosting is appropriate, but only early on
Is it ever appropriate to ghost someone?
Yes
64%
No
36%
If yes, after how many dates is it no longer appropriate to ghost someone?
1
17%
2
35%
3
31%
4+
17%
People are divided on defining the relationship
Is there a difference between being “exclusive” and being in a “relationship”? (in non-poly dating)
Yes
50%
No
50%
Explanations
No “I hate this. It’s an arbitrary distinction.”
No “It sounds like you’re trying to insulate yourself from having to have specific qualities of a significant other but at this point you are so close i don’t think there’s actually a difference”
Yes “Being exclusive is pretty much like dating, but you wouldn’t bring them to meet your parents.”
Yes “Exclusive is that little zone before defining the relationship where neither party should be dating anyone else”
Generally, after how many dates do you want to talk about “defining the relationship”?
< 4
4%
4-5
30%
6-7
29%
8-9
14%
10+
23%
Most would date a coworker, but it's not ideal
Have you / would you date a coworker?
Yes
60%
No
40%
2%
said they'd prefer to meet the next person they have a relationship with at work
Drinks are by far the most common and preferred first date activity
86%
of people considered drinks an ideal first date activity.
5 most common first date activites that people planned or were invited to at least once in 2018
| Drinks | 96% |
| Dinner | 62% |
| Coffee/Tea | 53% |
| Hang out at house/apartment | 31% |
| Go for a walk | 29% |
People would ideally do these first date activities more frequently
| Planned / invited to |
Considered "ideal" |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream / Dessert | 14% | 36% |
| Go for a walk | 29% | 44% |
People would ideally do these first date activities less frequently
| Planned / invited to |
Considered "ideal" |
|
|---|---|---|
| Hang out at apartment | 31% | 12% |
| Dinner | 62% | 46% |
thank u, next
was the 2018 song that best summed up dating last year
was the 2018 song that best summed up dating last year
Which 2018 song best describes your experience dating last year?
| thank u, next Ariana Grande |
53% |
| In My Feelings Drake |
10% |
| New Rules Dua Lipa |
8% |
| One Kiss Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa |
7% |
| FRIENDS Marshmello & Anne-Marie |
4% |
| Meant to Be Bebe Rexha |
3% |
| Other | 15% |
Others mentioned: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, No Scrubs, Party for One, All By Myself
More on dating apps
Do you think you have a healthy relationship with dating apps?
Yes
65%
No
35%
Have you ever asked someone of the gender(s) you are interested in dating for feedback on your dating profile?
Yes
41%
No
59%
Did the following happen at least once in the last year when meeting a first date through an app?
We had sex
Yes
49%
No
51%
We ended up dating for more than a month
Yes
37%
No
63%
The person I met used outdated pictures
Yes
33%
No
67%
We became non-dating friends
Yes
29%
No
71%
The person I met misrepresented their height
Yes
19%
No
81%
I was stood up
Yes
19%
No
81%
The person I met was offensive
Yes
16%
No
84%
The person I met completely misrepresented their identity
No
96%
Which dating app was your favorite this year?
| Hinge | 45% |
| Bounce | 13% |
| Tinder | 12% |
| Bumble | 11% |
| okCupid | 4% |
Others mentioned: Grindr, Coffee Meets Bagel, Chappy, The League, Plenty of Fish, Scruff, JSwipe, Raya, Feeld, Match, Subtle Asian Dating, Luxy
More on dating in general
Do you think astrology played a role in your dating life this year?
Yes
11%
No
89%
How frequently did your first dates lead to second dates?
Almost never
18%
Once in a while
34%
Half the time
31%
Usually or more
17%
How often did your first dates meet or exceed your expectations?
Almost never
16%
Once in a while
37%
Half the time
32%
Usually or more
15%
How often did you cancel a first date last year?
Never
26%
Almost never
41%
Once in a while
26%
Half or more
7%
How often did the other person cancel a first date last year?
Never
20%
Almost never
34%
Once in a while
35%
Half or more
11%
Here's to dating in 2019! We hope you find whatever it is you're looking for, or at least have fun doing it :)
Who took the survey?
Respondents are primarily Bounce app users who live in New York City and were single for at least one month in 2018.
Average Age: 26.8 years old
Gender/Preference Breakdown:
| Women interested in men | 48% |
| Men interested in women | 35% |
| Men interested in men | 11% |
| Women interested in women | 3% |
| Women interested in anyone | 4% |
| Men interested in anyone | < 1% |
