Stacy Jo Dixon
Research expert covering social media usage worldwide
Ghosting, catfishing, fake profiles – online dating is a battlefield for singles in the United Kingdom, but that does not deter them from looking out for love. As the third largest online dating market in the world, UK dating service users are willing to invest time and money to find the right partner. They have seen it all - the good, the bad, and the complicated, but they have not yet been disheartened by the modern phenomenon of online dating.
Approximately 26 percent of those registered were paying for their chosen dating service, meaning that one in four users were likely paying subscription fees to access extra features. Users aged 25 to 34 years made up the largest share of the UK’s online dating audience, accounting for 31.4 percent of the total online dating pool. Additionally, men made up around one in six users in the country in 2023.
Although Tinder was the most well-known service, Grindr, one of the first and most successful apps for gay, bisexual, and trans individuals worldwide, was the app upon which people spent the most time. As of May 2023, UK users spent an average of almost seven hours per month on Grindr, compared to just one hour and 13 minutes on Tinder.
Unfortunately, most online dating users had encountered fake profiles on their chosen dating platforms. Fake profiles rarely end up just costing users their precious time and energy, but also their money. The total number of reports of romance fraud cases in England and Wales stood at 7,660 in 2023, up from 7,014 in 2022 – an increase of around 58 percent when compared to 2018 figures.
Romance scams are not the only thing that users should beware of, and real-life users are often the cause of much heartache. Around a quarter of all online dating users had been ghosted, and around one in five admitted that they had ghosted someone.
Nevertheless, singles find dating apps convenient, accessible, and enjoy a much larger dating pool of potential partners, signaling that they are still playful and positive when it comes to finding love online.
Finding one in eleven million
If you find yourself downloading a dating app in the United Kingdom, you will be pleased to know that you would be joining over 16 percent of the total population of the country. As of 2023, there were 11.1 million online dating users in the UK, and it is estimated that by 2028, there will be almost 12 million users.Approximately 26 percent of those registered were paying for their chosen dating service, meaning that one in four users were likely paying subscription fees to access extra features. Users aged 25 to 34 years made up the largest share of the UK’s online dating audience, accounting for 31.4 percent of the total online dating pool. Additionally, men made up around one in six users in the country in 2023.
Who is the fairest of them all?
With many platforms to choose from, most online dating users gravitate towards market leader Tinder, known for its “swipe right, swipe left” feature. In 2023, Tinder was by far the most well-known dating service in the UK, with 83 percent of people having heard of the app. Match and eHarmony followed with 71 percent and 64 percent, respectively.Although Tinder was the most well-known service, Grindr, one of the first and most successful apps for gay, bisexual, and trans individuals worldwide, was the app upon which people spent the most time. As of May 2023, UK users spent an average of almost seven hours per month on Grindr, compared to just one hour and 13 minutes on Tinder.
Broken hearts (and bank accounts)
The online dating scene can be full of ups and downs, and UK singles have quite the stories to tell. As of December 2023, 49 percent of dating app users in the UK said they had had a very good online dating experience, compared with 20 percent who reported having a very bad online dating experience.Unfortunately, most online dating users had encountered fake profiles on their chosen dating platforms. Fake profiles rarely end up just costing users their precious time and energy, but also their money. The total number of reports of romance fraud cases in England and Wales stood at 7,660 in 2023, up from 7,014 in 2022 – an increase of around 58 percent when compared to 2018 figures.
Romance scams are not the only thing that users should beware of, and real-life users are often the cause of much heartache. Around a quarter of all online dating users had been ghosted, and around one in five admitted that they had ghosted someone.
Nevertheless, singles find dating apps convenient, accessible, and enjoy a much larger dating pool of potential partners, signaling that they are still playful and positive when it comes to finding love online.
