New Delhi: Love seems to have blossomed during the pandemic! Going by a survey, online dating could be the order of the day and despite COVID restrictions, love is very much in the air.
According to dating app Bumble, COVID-19 has changed dating behaviour in the country. About 72 per cent of single Indians surveyed by the app think it is possible to fall in love with someone online they have never met in person while 38 per cent would not go on a date or have sex with someone who hasn’t received the COVID vaccine. About 39 per cent of single Indians surveyed tried a video date as their first date in 2021.
The insights are based on a nationwide survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by Bumble and conducted in June 2021. With a wider rollout of vaccinations among younger age groups in India, more than one in three (33 per cent) daters surveyed were hopeful of dating this year.
The time spent in lockdowns has allowed people to focus on what they are truly looking for while dating, and the app found that people are now dating more intentionally than before the pandemic – they’re being more honest about what they’re looking for in a relationship, whether it’s casual or serious.
- 74 per cent of single Indians surveyed feel there is a decline in negative behaviour in dating such as ghosting, breadcrumbing, catfishing, among others.
- 25 per cent of daters said that they now feel less willing to compromise on what they want and need from a potential relationship.
- 54 per cent of single Indians claimed there was increased clear communication on dating intentions and expectations during the pandemic.
- 48 per cent said there was an increased focus on personality rather than looks while dating during the pandemic. One in three felt less pressure when dating during the pandemic.
- Around 45 per cent of single Indians surveyed believe virtual or online dating is the new normal.
- 39 per cent have tried a video date as their first date in 2021.
- 48 per cent of single Indians surveyed said the most popular reason enjoy virtual dating is because it feels safer than meeting up with someone in person for the first time.
- 35 per cent of people surveyed claimed they were more safety conscious now after the second wave than last year
- 38 per cent of daters surveyed said they would not go on a date or have sex with someone who hasn’t received the covid vaccine.
“The pandemic has brought about meaningful changes in our dating choices and behaviour as single Indians navigate this new world of dating. This last year, that people spent in lockdowns, has given them the opportunity to focus on what they are truly looking for while dating. There is a renewed sense of clarity and confidence in taking control of their dating lives as they navigate new rules of dating, both virtually and in-person,” Samarpita Samaddar, communications director, Bumble India was quoted as saying by LiveMint.
