LinkedIn is a dating app? 52% use networking site to find love!

NEW YORK — It’s time to swipe right on — LinkedIn? The world’s largest professional networking site is apparently becoming much more than just a place to find jobs. A new survey finds people are turning to LinkedIn to find dates!

With Google searches for “how to meet people for dating” up a whopping 200 percent since 2021, a survey of 505 single adults between the ages of 20 and 40 conducted by DatingNews.com found that 52 percent of participants used LinkedIn as a dating site. For those in the age group 35 to 40, a whopping 61 percent found a date on the professional networking platform.

This suggests a trend towards online networking for dating, possibly influenced by the rise of remote work lifestyles, “blending work and love in unexpected ways,” says Khaya Caine, a certified professional dating coach and host of the “Boss Lady Manifesto Podcast.”

The good-old blind date ranked second in the survey, with 48 percent of respondents going that route. Interestingly, 35 to 40-year-olds are more inclined towards blind dates than younger individuals, although 43 percent of 20 to 24-year-olds have also tried this method. Dating apps like Tinder are adapting by incorporating blind date features, acknowledging this trend’s endurance.

Despite the boom of dating apps, traditional venues like bars remain relevant, with nearly 40 percent of singles meeting potential partners in such settings. The trend is particularly prominent among 20 to 25-year-olds (52%), though it decreases for 25 to 35-year-olds (35%). These findings indicate that in-person encounters still play a significant role in the dating scene.

“Traditional social venues like bars remain popular, especially among younger crowds. Diverse age groups show unique dating preferences, with older individuals favoring structured setups like blind dates,” explains Caine in a statement to StudyFinds.

Dating sites like OKCupid remain a mainstay, used by around 45 percent of respondents. Women utilize these platforms more than men, with the older demographic (age 35-40) showing a higher preference for online dating compared to younger users.

A notable 21 percent of respondents have turned to non-dating apps, like language-learning platforms, to meet people. This trend illustrates the serendipitous nature of romantic connections and the openness of users to finding love in unexpected places.

So, what’s your go-to method to find love in this world? Let us know in the comments below!

Methodology

Singles received 15 various options and tasked with selecting the various methods they’ve used to find people to date. Then, DatingNews.com broke down the results by gender, age, region, and location.

Best Dating Sites for Singles

Whether you’re looking for a casual fling or a long-term commitment, dating apps cater to all preferences and offer a convenient way to navigate the modern dating scene. So, if you’re ready to swipe right and find your perfect match, look no further – StudyFinds has compiled a list of the best dating apps that are sure to enhance your love life. Here at the top three:

1. Match

Match is a revolutionary dating app that has transformed the way people meet and connect with potential partners.

“Match makes it smooth and easy to form virtual connections. Rich and robust profiles, not just hot photos, let you know if someone is worth your time before you start talking. Thanks to the Vibe Check feature, potential partners already in a conversation can also begin a live video chat session if they both agree,” says PC Mag.

2. eHarmony

eHarmony is a popular online dating app that aims to connect individuals based on compatibility and long-term relationship potential.

With its unique approach to matchmaking, “eHarmony is hyper-focused on getting people matched up for good. That means serious dating is its ethos: this is a service that claims to match up to 70 percent of its users with a long-term relationship within a year of clicking ‘join now,’” states GQ.

3. Bumble

Bumble is a popular dating app that has gained significant attention in recent years. The dating app was launched in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, one of the co-founders of Tinder.

“Bumble empowers its most vulnerable users to send the first message when looking for dates, knowing that they won’t get unsolicited messages in return. Bumble also offers many ways to communicate beyond text. You can send audio notes, add a Virtual Dating Badge to your profile, and begin a video chat when you’re ready,” explains PC.

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