Voice notes add an authentic, intimate dimension to a potential match's profile in a way that text and photos can't do alone. 'The pandemic really helped us all pay attention to the importance of audio and the importance of voice,' Ury said. Bumble added audio (Opens in a new tab) messages in late 2020, and Hinge implemented voice prompts for profiles this year.

In addition to adding video components during those initial pandemic days, dating apps also invested in audio features. Voice features have also been popular on dating apps and in the broader tech world. Of the 5,000 Americans aged 18 to 75 surveyed, 71 percent said a video date helped determine if they wanted to meet in person, and 63 percent said they'd feel more comfortable on a first date if they video chatted before the meetup. Even with in-person dating on the table (possible variants notwithstanding), Hinge users often use a pre-date call or video chat as a vibe check.Īccording to data gathered from over 5,000 global Hinge users in December 2020, more than half (65 percent) of users planned on incorporating video dates in the dating process, and Ury said Hinge has seen this expectation come to life.įindings from Match's 2021 Singles in America (Opens in a new tab) survey tells a similar story. Video dates, a cornerstone of early pandemic romance, are likely here to stay, said Logan Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge. Virtual dating will stick around - and VR dating is on its heels Given the ride the last couple years have been, what will 2022 bring us in terms of finding love? Dating experts have a few predictions, including a continued use of virtual dating, a push towards serious relationships for some and non-monogamy for others, and an emphasis on mental health and vulnerability. This year, we had a hodge-podge of varying desires - and COVID mandates - as we all attempted to navigate dating through a seemingly-endless pandemic.

Last year, we were forced to date through screens or not at all.

We've all faced specific pandemic-fueled challenges in the past two years, and daters aren't any different.

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