According to a survey of United States adults who have used online dating services, finding an exclusive romantic partner was the leading reason for joining a dating website or app for more than five in ten respondents. Users reporting they joined to have something fun or interesting to do were 34 percent, while 23 percent joined out of curiosity to see what the app was like. To find someone for one's friend and to boost one's self-esteem were among the least popular reasons to use a dating app or website, with 18 percent of respondents picking each option.
Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021
Characteristic
Share of respondents
To find an exclusive romantic partner
54%
To have something fun/interesting to do
34%
To have casual sex
26%
To make platonic, non-romantic connections
25%
To see what the app is like
23%
To find non-exclusive romantic partners
20%
To boost my self-esteem
18%
To find someone for a friend
18%
To cheat on my significant other
6%
Other
5%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondents54%54%34%34%26%26%25%25%23%23%20%20%18%18%18%18%6%6%5%5%To find an exclusive romantic partnerTo have something fun/interesting to doTo have casual sexTo make platonic, non-romantic connectionsTo see what the app is likeTo find non-exclusive romantic partnersTo boost my self-esteemTo find someone for a friendTo cheat on my significant otherOther
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%
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YouGov. (June 7, 2021). Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/
YouGov. "Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021." Chart. June 7, 2021. Statista. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/
YouGov. (2021). Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/
YouGov. "Most Popular Reasons for Users in The United States to Use Online Dating Websites or Apps as of May 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Jun 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/
YouGov, Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/ (last visited February 23, 2025)
Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021 [Graph], YouGov, June 7, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/976189/reasons-why-adults-use-dating-websites-apps-usa/
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