Is romance dead, or did my phone just die?

As dating apps look to establish themselves within the sphere of romance, love transitions from off- to online

By: Blake Clayton/SATSC Contributor

There are currently millions of registered dating app profiles globally; associated with each of these profiles is two thumbs swiping left and right, navigating the contemporary romantic landscape in search of a lover, a hookup, or "just looking for friends?"

Regardless of their motive, over 74 million monthly Tinder users regularly exchange facts, characteristics, and pictures of themselves online to sell their worth or attractiveness, all the while simultaneously surveying the market for any potential suitors that they deem worthy for themselves.

While they certainly remain popular, have dating apps and other technologies really improved the romantic lives of so many? Or perhaps, more likely, have they commodified romance through unrivaled convenience, pushing back on the traditional societal norms that have governed romance for so long?

With more than four billion Tinder swipes a day, there is no question as to the quantitative magnitude of dating apps within the contemporary sphere of romance, although its qualitative impact is far less understood. Data provided by dating and AI expert Ben Bailey’s blog “Roast” provides fruitful insight into the actual success rates of dating apps such as Tinder.

The Roast suggests that although males account for roughly 75 percent of all Tinder profiles, there remains a match discrepancy far greater than a 3:1 male/female ratio would suggest. Bailey’s data reflects this discrepancy: the average male will likely receive one match for every forty of their swipes, whereas females receive roughly one match for every two swipes.

The “swiping” mechanic used by Tinder and several other dating apps requires the user to swipe right on profiles they accept and left on those they reject. Consequently, matching profiles will be able to directly message one another.

Contrasting statistics of this nature suggest that females remain far more particular than their male counterparts. Such particularity deems itself useful considering men make up a vast majority of the app’s profiles, thus providing a far greater pool to choose from for the female demographic.

Bailey’s data suggests that the online dating realm is likely only lucrative for the female population, as they possess the power to choose from several potential suitors, whereas men typically settle after receiving only a fraction of the matches. Furthermore, such statistics clash with traditional dating norms which historically afforded men the agency to make the first move in emerging relationships.

Dating apps are not necessarily effective in matchmaking, so why are they still so popular? According to TinderNewsroom, the platform’s official statistical resource, low-effort engagement was one of the app’s most common trends in 2024. Furthermore, Tinder phrased such a trend as “S-low Effort: A cultural shift that encourages ‘not doing too much’ when dating.” Low-effort engagement may manifest itself in several different ways such as neglecting to respond to potential beaus or engaging online romantically with no intention of ever meeting in person.

Emerging trends, such as Tinder’s shift to low-effort engagement in 2024, give valuable insight into the mindsets of dating app users, proving that traditional romantic values of previous generations are being pushed aside and replaced by passive searching of romance. Swiping on dating apps throughout the day has become routine for many, requiring little to no real attention or interest in the activity at hand.

Moreover, the in-person interactions that were previously deemed sacred in the formation of romantic or sexual relationships seem to have been put on the backburner to allow for the emergence of dating apps. Platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are constantly utilizing the convenience of technology to commodify the romantic sphere, profiting through ad revenue and paid subscriptions, essentially preying off the lonely to fill their pockets.

In an era of rapid technological advancement and cultural shifting, the traditional societal values of romance have been transformed due to the emergence of an easily accessible dating platform. While some do find true love on such apps, many do not. While the commodification of love and sex continues and romance morphs further into recreation, it is easy to believe that romance is dead — but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to put down the phone to see it.

Disclaimer: To maintain accuracy and objectivity, it should be noted that Tinder statistics are viewed through a heterosexual lens, as the majority of the platform’s users are straight, although the platform supports all sexualities and genders.