Online dating services are developing rapidly and are actively using technological innovations to attract new users. The coronavirus pandemic has given the dating industry a new impetus and led to the emergence and wide distribution of new dating formats. What is relevant in the industry right now?
-
Virtual Dates
Due to the pandemic and related restrictions, the popularity of virtual dating has skyrocketed. Basically, virtual dating means audio and video calls, although with the development of VR technologies, communication will probably move to “real” virtual reality. For instance, the Ladadate — Russian brides service even before the pandemic provided the possibility of video meetings, but few people used it. However, during social isolation, the popularity of this service has increased dramatically.
-
Artificial Intelligence
The trend towards the introduction of the latest developments in the field of artificial intelligence has not bypassed the dating industry. For instance, in recent years, dating services have often used machine learning algorithms. The co-founder of Tinder believes that artificial intelligence will completely change the way we approach dating and acquaintances.
With their help, by the behavior of the user, you can find out their intentions, preferences, solvency, and, based on these data, build the most suitable strategy. Thus, machine learning technologies make it possible to personalize services as much as possible and save users time.
-
Slow Dating
The pandemic has made its own adjustments to the usual formats of dating and communication. Due to social distancing requirements, many users of dating services began to communicate with potential partners online for much longer before moving offline. All this has led to a trend towards “slow dating” when meetings in real life are preceded by a long period of communication online. According to statistics, 84% of users believe that it is crucial to establish an emotional connection before going on a date.
-
The Rise of Voice Communication
As the case with the huge popularity of Clubhouse showed, in times of social isolation, ordinary voice communication without video has become an incredibly popular format. Of course, the developers of dating apps also took advantage of this.
For instance, the Vox service offers an unusual dating format “by voice”. Instead of pictures and text descriptions, users record their own voices and listen to recordings of other people’s voices. In the case of mutual sympathy, contacts are opened for further communication. The service has already gained quite a lot of popularity among an active audience.
-
Segmented Dating Services
Also, the popularity of niche dating services, which are designed for certain social groups, united according to the principles of sexual orientation, religion, nationality, and so on, has noticeably increased. Examples include apps such as Wonder for lesbian and bisexual women, BLK for black people, and Muzmatch for Muslims.
It is easier for developers of such services to customize algorithms for a specific target group and become the best application in their niche than to try to win a wider audience. And for users with slightly fewer standard requests, it can be hard to find a soulmate in mainstream services, so such niche applications become a real salvation.
