1 in 5 Filipinos stopped dating during pandemic, study shows

With the social distancing and lockdowns imposed on Filipinos due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, dating habits have changed and for some, the activity has totally stopped.

According to a study by research and data analytics group YouGov, one in five Filipinos or 20% have completely stopped dating since the pandemic began.

The survey, which was conducted on 1,012 respondents, also showed that 22% went on fewer physical dates compared to during pre-pandemic days.

Motivated to find love amid COVID-19, 20% adjusted with the new normal by going on virtual dates.

One in eight persons or 12%, however, said their dating habits hadn’t changed at all.

Twenty-five percent, meanwhile, said that during and even before the pandemic, they didn’t date at all.

Surprisingly, a small percentage had gone on more physical dates despite the health crisis.

Prior to the pandemic, 52 percent of the respondents didn’t go on a date for the past six months, while 42 percent went out more than once.

Trying to find someone during the new normal, some turned to dating applications for help.

According to YouGov, while 5% spent less time on dating apps, 14% have either began using, spending more time on, or downloading new ones.

Before COVID-19, about two in five persons or 38% downloaded dating apps, with Tinder leading at 23%, followed by Grindr, Bumble, and OkCupid.

Since the pandemic started, Tinder is still the most used among the 12% who downloaded new dating apps, followed by Bumble and OkCupid.

Although 23 percent of the respondents claimed that dating apps were a great way to find your match, 28 percent disagreed, while the other half were undecided. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News