Wanted, True Love: An in-depth analysis of popular dating apps

 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The search for lasting love just got a whole lot simpler, or has it? In the age of dating apps and online romance, the claim is that it’s become much easier to score a relationship or, at least, a date for the night.

Relying on compatibility estimates taken from location, common interests, and other pertinent data, each platform presents users with a list of potential matches. From here it’s just a matter of chatting with each candidate to determine an ideal partner.

 

Tinder, a highly popular dating app, boasts a whopping 2 billion matches made worldwide since its initial release. OkCupid’s new app, Crazy Blind Date, has over 200,000 downloads and counting. Grindr, a dating app for homosexual men, is also equally prominent with 5 million active users, globally.

 

Many are attracted to the proposition of a quick and easy matchmaking process. And who wouldn’t be? Simply click through a series of available matches and presto: a date with nothing to show for it but a sprained finger, at most, from all that swiping (left and right). 

 

Dating apps have effectively reduced an emotionally exhausting and time-consuming practice to mere minutes of pick-and-choose. Despite the ease and convenience, however, a lot of people claim that it only targets one aspect of everything a relationship entails. Experts also theorize that apps like these created the doorway to the current hook-up culture popular with younger generations.

 

So the question remains: is it possible to find true and lasting romance through a dating app?

 

Simple Enough?

 

The main lure of online dating apps is the relative simplicity of use. As opposed to manually scouring the dating pool through trial and error, a list of ideal candidates is delivered right to the user’s mobile. More and more people have been downloading and using these apps, as well as talking about them on social.

 

A current Radian 6 analysis shows that buzz surrounding dating apps is quite high at a total of 2,094,611 mentions. Breaking the data down further points to Tinder as the leading topic of discussion for most at 1,383,012, far outpacing counterparts Badoo (505,611), Grindr (137,779), and Twoo (63,733). 

 

The overwhelming popularity of these apps could lie in their inherent convenience and the novel experiences, both positive and negative. After all, anything that can expedite a process as complicated as modern-day dating has to have even a fraction of merit. 

 

True enough, sentiment analysis for each of the apps shows an overwhelming positive response. The only exception is Grindr, a dating app targeted towards gay men. Analyzing the river of news related to negative mentions (10,179 to 8,658 positive) reveals most to be about the snarky comments about fellow searchers and the increasing propensity for casual sex.

Other notable topics of discussion were associated breaches of security and the use of the app in Gaza’s recent crackdown on homosexuality.

 

Looking in all the right places? 

APP	LUST	LOVE
GRINDR	86.30%	13.70%
TINDER	81.30%	18.70%
TWOO	81%	19%
BADOO	72.40%	24.60%

 

 

A more in-depth analysis reveals that the consensus on dating apps is that they are mainly used for and associated with hooking up. Inserting keyword sets pertaining to “love” and “lust” shows that the latter is more closely connected with app-based romantic interactions. Grindr is most notorious with 86.3% “lust” to 13.7% “love” mentions. Tindr comes in second (81.3% v. 18.7%), followed by Twoo (81% v. 19%), and Badoo (72.4% v 24.6%)

 

Analysis of sentiment related to “love” and “lust” per app reveals that negative sentiment is higher for lust-related interactions compared to a higher positive sentiment for those that are related to finding true love

 

Current findings might make most think that online dating is getting downright shady. However, looking at how people feel about these apps as tools to get the next one-night stand, as opposed to finding “the one,” reveals a completely different picture. Most are strongly opposed to using them for casual sex with the “lust” view receiving a bigger share of negative sentiment. In contrast, majority like that the apps can be used to capture a “happily ever after,” as evidenced by a greater portion of positive sentiment for the “love” POV.

 

Love or Bust?

 

With these results it seems like finding true love through a dating app is more the exception than the rule. Then again, hope abounds and more and more people are willing to throw their hats into the ring. The reason for this is fairly straightforward; it’s what compels people to keep on trying through failed encounters, weirdos, and other outlandish situations. Whether online or offline, one thing still remains: the chance for love is always worth a shot. — TJD, GMA News
 

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Iggy Gan is an Associate Social Media Consultant at AllFamous Digital. He has a knack for social listening and a passion for writing. Follow him on Twitter @iggypedia.

 

Erica Sanidad is a Social Media Specialist for AllFamous Digital. She likes reading and collecting graphic novels and loves to paint during her spare time. Follow her on Linked In and Instagram @ericasanidad.
 

AllFamous Digital are the Authorized Reseller and Services Partner of Salesforce Marketing Cloud across ASEAN. 

The opinions in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of GMA News.