It’s that time of year, when love is in the air and on the apps–dating apps, that is. So what is the 2022 dating app sentiment, and how has it changed–if at all–since 2021? 

As it turns out, current dating app usage is fairly consistent with the numbers in the last CivicScience report. However, those who report using the apps the same amount have increased since last year. Another poll found that more than half (65%) of dating app users are logging in at least weekly, if not daily.

Working Americans are Looking for Love  

Last year, unemployed Americans were the most active on dating sites. However, the tables have since turned. Now, those who are working as usual (not remotely) are the most likely to report they’re using the apps daily. Can you smell the motivation? Remote workers are the most likely to be using them at least weekly, and only slightly less likely to use them daily than those who work outside of the home.

Perhaps not surprisingly, those who check the apps daily or weekly are more likely to consider themselves addicted to their phones.  

What may be more striking, however, is that men are far more active on dating apps than women. What’s interesting is people over age 30 are slightly more likely to report using the apps daily than their under 30 counterparts. 

And far from being an outlet for the unhappy in search of a mood boost, those who check their dating apps most often also report the highest levels of happiness. Perhaps the dopamine hit of a new match really does make a difference. 

This data alone suggests that 2022 is seeing a whole new person gravitating towards dating apps. So how does this translate to app preferences? 

Tinder’s Fall from the Top

The shift here is clear. Among this year’s pool of respondents who have tried or intend to try dating apps, Tinder has been booted to the bottom of the list as Match and OkCupid rose in favorability. This suggests that those on the sites could be less interested in a hookup (as was Tinder’s claim to fame) and more interested in the elusive LTR (long-term relationship). 

That said, the percentage of those who have met their current partner on a dating app are similar to last year’s. 

And of those who have met their current partner on a dating app or site, the largest percentage (34%) are aged 35-54 years old. This supports the earlier data that showed the 30 and up crowd flocking to dating sites most often. This also supports the shift we’ve seen in app preference, as the youth-focused Tinder has given way to more mature sites like Match and OkCupid. 

Not surprisingly, those who met their current significant other online spend more time on social media. They are also roughly twice as likely to say they use multiple devices at once every day. 

And yet, those dating app-turned-IRL-relationships don’t necessarily guarantee a happily ever after. As the data show, those who did not meet their current spouse online are happier than those who have. In fact, those who met their partner on a dating app are just as likely to report unhappiness as those who are not in a relationship at all.

This year, dating apps are not just for the youth. In fact, they’re not being snapped up by the youth in the way they once were. Instead, a more mature, 30+ crowd is taking to the digital dating world, overturning the former Titan of online dating, Tinder, in favor of apps and sites that cater to a more seasoned crowd.