In the United States, Google searches for “dating” peaked in 5 years

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It’s half of what has already been dubbed “Hot Vax Summer” and whether you’re reluctant to get back out there or ready to flirt, trending searches on Google reveal that dating is definitely on our minds.

Google tweeted last week that search interest in dating hit a 5-year high in the U.S. In some parts of the country, the topic is particularly popular. “As to date” was the most searched in Washington, DC, last week, says Google.

Dating apps are experiencing love

Several dating apps have predicted the peak of interest in dating in the spring, dubbing the upcoming season “Summer of Love”. According to Dana Balch, a spokesperson for Tinder, the app recorded some of its highest swipe days this year.

“I think this really comes from a place where people want to connect with others during a time when they have felt isolated,” she told NPR.

Dating apps make it easy to see who in your location is looking for a match, and now they also offer ways to share their vaccination status. According to Google, searches for “best dating apps 2021” have increased over the past month, up 3,400%. According to the Annie Mobile App Market database, Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are currently among the 50 most profitable apps on the iPhone.

And the trends aren’t exclusive to younger demographics. According to Google, in the past month, the search term “dating app for seniors” has increased by 3,500%.

Virtual first date ideas are plentiful

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod also predicted on NPR’s Morning Edition in May that summer 2021 would see a dating boom and said he believes video dating will remain a popular choice, even after the pandemic ends.

And it would appear that he was right. Searches for “virtual first date ideas” increased 450% last week, yielding results including virtual cooking dates, museum tours, and lots of fun games to play online with a potential partner. Video options added to dating apps have also allowed for greater accessibility and security, Balch said.

The results are in: the vaccines are hot

Dating app Bumble reported seeing a spike in user comfort with in-person dating in states and cities where vaccination rates are highest.

“Historically, this is a time of year when the dating industry sees a dramatic increase in activity and we are experiencing it more than ever this summer season,” Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said in a statement. June press release. “Employers are entering this ‘summer of love’ with more intention than ever and are prioritizing safety, compatibility and shared values ​​as restrictions ease and vaccination rates rise.”

Balch said as soon as it became known that a vaccine would be available, the word was often found in Tinder’s public bios, where he said the platform noticed a significant increase in boundary definition ahead of time.

“Feeling comfortable being able to say, ‘I only want to meet someone if they meet this health care limit that I have’ and the ability of the vaccine to allow people to feel safer when they go out together has definitely contributed to the interest in dating. this summer, “he said.

Josie Fischels is an NPR News Desk intern.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To find out more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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