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Online dating can introduce you to people you might not otherwise meet, and some couples say they met that way. But using a dating site or app does not guarantee a relationship: U.S. survey findings show a mix of positive and negative experiences, reports of unwanted behavior, and divided views about safety. A sensible approach is to choose a service around your needs, keep expectations realistic, and never send money to someone you know only online.
How common is online dating, and can it lead to a relationship?
In a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted July 5–17, 2022, 30% said they had ever used a dating site or app. Among partnered adults, one in ten said they met their current partner through one; the share was 20% among partnered adults under 30. These are self-reported findings from a 2022 survey, not a forecast of anyone’s chances of finding a partner. Pew Research Center’s report was published in 2023.
People use dating platforms for different reasons, including finding a long-term partner. The survey describes whether respondents had used a service and how they felt about the experience; it does not establish that app use caused couples to form or that one service produces better outcomes.
What do users report about the experience?
Among online dating users surveyed by Pew, 53% described their experience as at least somewhat positive, while 46% described it as very or somewhat negative. Those figures capture respondents’ overall assessments; they do not mean every interaction was positive or negative, and they do not predict how a new user will fare.
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Experiences also include unwanted behavior. Forty-eight percent of users said they had encountered at least one of four behaviors asked about: unwanted sexual content, continued contact after they said they were not interested, offensive names, or threats of physical harm. This is a measure of reported exposure to at least one listed behavior, not a claim that all users experience each behavior.
How should you choose a dating site or app?
Match the service to your priorities rather than treating popularity as proof of quality. Consider the kind of relationship you want, whether there are likely to be compatible people in your area, what features cost, what identity and safety controls are available, and whether the service works for your community and accessibility needs.
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Pew’s 2022 survey asked about use of several named services. Among people who had ever used online dating, 46% said they had used Tinder; roughly three in ten had used Match or Bumble; and roughly one in five had used OkCupid, eharmony, or Hinge. These are historical ever-use responses, not current user counts, rankings, or measures of safety, features, or success. The survey does not provide a current comparison of prices or tools, so check each service’s own current information before signing up or paying.
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What does the evidence say about safety?
Views among U.S. adults were nearly evenly divided: 48% considered dating sites and apps very or somewhat safe ways to meet people, while 49% considered them not too or not at all safe. These are general opinions, not a safety rating of any particular platform. No app can guarantee that another person is who they claim to be or that an interaction will be safe.
Practical precautions can reduce avoidable risk without assuming that every match is dangerous:
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- Keep early conversations on the service while you decide whether you trust the other person; be cautious if someone quickly pushes you to move to another channel.
- Protect private information such as your home address, financial details, account credentials, and identity documents.
- If you arrange to meet, choose a public place and tell someone you trust where you will be. Leave if you feel uncomfortable.
- Use the service’s block and report options for unwanted contact, threats, or suspicious behavior.
How can you recognize and respond to a romance scam?
A romance scammer may build a relationship online and then describe distance, an emergency, or another urgent need as a reason to ask for money. The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance is direct: “Never send anyone cash or pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to an online love interest.” Read the FTC’s romance scam advice for more details.
In Pew’s survey, 52% of online dating users thought they had encountered a scammer on a dating site or app. This is what respondents believed, not a verified count of actual scammers. If you suspect a scam, do not send money; report it to the platform and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How current are these online dating statistics?
The numbers above come from Pew Research Center’s survey of 6,034 U.S. adults fielded July 5–17, 2022, and published February 2, 2023. Pew combined respondents from its American Trends Panel with an oversample of LGB respondents from Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel and weighted results to reflect the population. The findings are self-reported and specific to U.S. adults; they should not be presented as 2026 platform market share or as proof of cause and effect. Pew also notes that its Asian adult sample was 234, primarily English-speaking, and that filtered online-dating results were not separately analyzed by Asian demographic subgroups. The methodology appears in the same Pew report.
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