Have online dating apps changed the nature of relationships in India? #Qom intern Priya Singh takes a look.
A few years back, the arrival of Tinder sent shockwaves through a culture dominated by the tradition of arranged marriages. The concept of dating, leave alone finding love online, was alien and akin to sacrilege.
Cut to the present, Indian women (and not men) are driving the demand for online dating apps in India. With an increase in education and financial independence over the years, women are taking the lead and looking for partners online who could match their needs and not just their horoscopes! While men continue to be the overwhelming majority of users on these apps, dating companies believe that there has been a significant increase in women users on the apps as well.
According to reports in the media, the dating app market is to be valued at $100 million in the next five to eight years. The online dating market is ruled by apps such as Tinder, TrulyMadly, OkCupid and the newly launched Bumble. User penetration in the market was at 2.7% in 2018 and is expected to hit 3.2% by 2023, according to online market researcher Statista.
While matrimonial websites focus on the parents, online dating provides a platform for the younger generation to find partners of their choice. Interestingly, finding romantic or sexual partners is not always the priority for youngsters these days but also to find like-minded people with similar interests – personal or professional.
While in the past, horoscopes and matchmakers helped couples get together and live happily ever after – or not, these days new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and platforms driven by algorithms are helping men and women find connections. Through customized questions that range from movies, food to clothes – men and women are connecting to find friendship, love and often even professional connections.