"Blind Dates or Clubbing? For Over Half of Millennials and Gen Z, Romance Now Starts Online"

More Than Half of Millennials and Gen Z Say They Started Dating on SNS
"The Beginning of Relationships Is Converging Online"

Photo for article understanding. Pixabay

It has been found that dating trends among young people have been rapidly changing recently. Dating, which used to be centered around blind dates and introductions through acquaintances, is now shifting online, primarily through social networking services (SNS) and dating apps. This is largely attributed to the expansion of the dating app market and changing perceptions about meeting people online.

On December 18, Enrise released the '2030 SNS Dating Trend Report' based on a survey of 1,191 Wippy members. More than half of respondents in their 20s and 30s said they had started a romantic relationship through SNS, confirming a swift transition from acquaintance-based dating to online relationships via SNS and dating apps.

Although the most commonly used SNS platforms differed by generation, Instagram was the top starting point for both groups. Among those in their 20s, Instagram (88.8%) and KakaoTalk (82.9%) were the most used, while those in their 30s favored KakaoTalk (88.4%) and Instagram (71.9%). However, 69.3% of respondents in their 20s and 55.3% in their 30s who had experienced SNS-based dating said their relationships began on Instagram.

Both generations had a positive perception of dating via SNS. The most common reason was the ability to meet new people without being introduced by acquaintances. However, there were differences in secondary criteria. Those in their 20s cited 'ease of communication' as their second reason, while those in their 30s chose 'the ability to meet someone with similar tastes.' This indicates that younger people prioritize accessibility and immediacy, whereas those in their 30s value compatibility and stability in relationships.

When it comes to the impact of SNS on dating, people in their 20s remain more positive. While 59% of respondents in their 20s viewed it positively, only 41% of those in their 30s did. Positive reasons included 'being able to naturally share daily life with each other' and 'being able to gauge the other person's emotions or situation through their SNS activity.' For those in their 30s who had a negative view, the most cited reason was 'increased misunderstandings or anxiety due to the other person's SNS activity.'

There were also differences in how relationships and breakups are made public. While 68% of people in their 20s said they disclose their relationships on SNS, only 59% of those in their 30s did so. People in their 20s tend to reveal their relationships without much hesitation, whereas those in their 30s are more cautious, taking into account factors such as work, acquaintances, and privacy. After a breakup, people in their 30s were more decisive in cleaning up their SNS connections, most commonly unfollowing and blocking at the same time, while those in their 20s tended to make decisions more flexibly depending on the situation. For both generations, the top reason for blocking was 'to keep things clean and organized.'

Lee Junghoon, Marketing Team Lead at Wippy, said, "For both Millennials & Gen Z, the beginning of romantic relationships is converging online. This trend is naturally expanding into dating apps, and positive perceptions of online meetings are expected to strengthen further."