6 Dating Trends To Watch Out For In 2024, According To Experts
January is all about resolutions, goal-setting, and fresh starts. For those in search of a new relationship, that often means reopening those dating apps they’ve stopped checking, refreshing their profiles, and re-dedicating themselves to swiping more often—and with more intention.
The first Sunday in January has long been dubbed “Dating Sunday” or the “Dating Superbowl” because it’s the busiest day of the year in online dating. In fact, according to recent data gathered by Tinder, the number of DMs sent among users increases by 22 percent on Dating Sunday, and the average response time speeds up 19.4 minutes faster. The momentum tends to last through Valentine’s Day, with Tinder also reporting that users send 58.7 million more likes between New Year’s Day and February 14th than the rest of the year.
There’s no question it’s babe-hunting season. What people are looking for varies individually, of course, but dating app member surveys, user activity, and experts with their ears to the ground have picked up on new trends sweeping the apps in early 2024.
“More than ever, people are dating with clearer purpose. It’s not about a free meal. It’s being mindful about who they’re giving their time to,” says Michael Kaye, head of global communications at OkCupid. “In the best possible way, it’s made people increasingly vulnerable and transparent about expressing what’s important to them.”
What will some of the biggest shifts in dating priorities and preferences be in 2024? Women’s Health spoke to experts from five top dating apps about their predictions.
1. It's okay to enjoy the ride.
Come 2024, singles will stress less about finding life-long partners and allow themselves to live more in the moment. In fact, 69 percent out of 4,000 Gen Z members surveyed agree that as they get older, following a conventional relationship timeline matters less to them, according to data from Tinder.
“What we’re seeing is people taking the pressure off themselves. They’re not as concerned with checking all the boxes as quickly as possible,” says Devyn Simone, Tinder’s resident relationship expert. “A successful relationship doesn’t look any one way anymore, which is giving people the freedom to slow down, enjoy the dating experience, and really consider what a successful relationship means to them.”
Bumble’s forecast echoes these findings, with 31 percent of members revealing that they are intentionally “slow-dating” without a specific end goal or focus on traditional milestones. Only one in five (23 percent) say they’re dating solely to find a spouse.
2. Sharing viewpoints is a top priority.
No one is hesitating to ask where a prospective partner stands on important issues anymore, with 25 percent of singles on Bumble reporting that seeing eye-to-eye on current events increases attraction. “We’re at a point in time where our social and political lives are inextricably linked,” says Shan Boodram, Bumble’s sex and relationships expert. “If you’re thinking about entering a committed relationship with someone, those are topics that will come up quickly and influence compatibility.”
Going into an election year, Kaye says “poli-dating”—a.k.a., making sure your politics align—will be a primary (pardon the pun) concern in 2024. OkCupid’s research shows that 81 percent of daters want to actively discuss politics with their partners. “It’s a trend we’ve seen happening for years that shows no signs of slowing down,” he explains. “People aren’t outright asking, ‘Are you a Democrat or Republican?’ But when it comes to issues like the abortion ban, singles absolutely want to know what side the other person is on.”
3. Armchair diagnosing is out.
Going to therapy to better understand yourself? Fantastic and fully supported. Labeling the people you’re dating with psychiatric buzzwords? Not cool. Also known as “thera-posing,” a term coined by Plenty of Fish, throwing around words like narcissist or sociopath because of dislike or a negative dating experience isn’t just overdone, it’s more than likely inaccurate. In truth, a very small of the population meet these kinds of clinical definitions.
Plenty of Fish polled 6,000 of their most active members and 33 percent said they found misuse of therapy-speak a major turn-off. “Therapy is a wonderful resource for people to have, but when it comes to someone you’re dating, not everything needs a label or a clinical term to describe the behavior. There’s a lot of nuance,” explains Eva Gallagher, POF’s resident dating expert, who also says that if the other person is selfish or disrespectful, you don’t need a diagnosis. That’s reason enough to cut things off, block them if necessary, and move on.
4. FaceTime is a pre-first date requirement.
One major downside of AI? It’s made catfishing and scamming even easier (if one of the first things they mention is crypto, run). To ensure a potential match is who they claim to be, polite-but-firm requests for a quick FaceTime prior to a first date is on the rise. In 2017, OkCupid added the profile question: "Do you ever video chat with someone before you meet up in person?" At the time, only 16 percent of respondents said yes. Five years later, it’s now 23 percent and rising.
“You may not know instantly if this is someone you’re going to end up with, but it confirms whether or not it’s someone you want to see in person. Jumping on FaceTime, Skype or Zoom lets you see exactly what you’re getting,” says Kaye.
5. Singles over age 50 are on the apps, too.
Call it the Golden Bachelor effect. On Feeld, a dating app for people exploring more outside-the-box relationships, 51+ is the fastest growing community, increasing by 22 percent in the past two years. One reason, says Dina Mohammand-Laity, Feeld’s Vice President of Data, is just the transparent number of smoking hot celebrities obliterating stereotypes around aging and desirability. Case in point: Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, and even Martha Stewart, who basically broke the internet with her infamous 2023 swimming pool thirst trap.
“The tide is turning quickly on who and what is defined as hot,” adds Mohammand-Laity. “In 2024, we predict more expressed sensuality and open desire to be sexually adventurous across Gen X and Boomers.”
6. Location isn't a dealbreaker.
Plenty of Fish has found that members are increasingly willing to travel or even relocate for the right person. Twenty three percent of those surveyed say they’ve expanded their profile search parameters to include locations they find geographically desirable. “With an increase in nomadic working, you’re not tied down to any one place if you don’t want to be. People are connecting farther and willing to consider living somewhere else if they meet the right person. We expect to see more and more of that happening,” says Gallagher.
“If there’s an area or even a climate that interests you, adjusting your settings is a way to manifest a connection with someone in that location,” Gallager continues. “People used to be fixated on finding the right person next door. That’s not the case anymore. You have the power to find a connection anywhere in the world.”
What the new trends have in common is this: One-size-fits-all relationships are a thing of the past, as daters are more in tune with themselves than ever. While people are still interested in having a good time, they also want to ensure their unique needs, beliefs, and curiosities are being met. So have fun out there and, as 2024 kicks off, here’s to a year of right swipes!
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