I’m not even old. I’m 24 years old. I vividly remember in the early 2010s when I was a kid, online dating sites were made fun of as being for old people / socially inept people (losers) only; by teens and young adults. Fast forward to now and online dating apps / sites have become the main way to meet people throughout all demographics. What triggered this shift? Never used a dating app / site as the concept has always turned me off.
Tinder was a paradigm shift. It’s success around 2015 started to flip public perception of online dating. Suddenly it was for all kinds of young people that were looking for the convenience of profile matching. A rising tide lifts all boats so legacy platforms shared in the popularity, also getting runoff from the non-target audience of the newer apps. The change in perception of online dating allowed people to appreciate its pragmatism. We’re in an age of busy people optimizing their lives. The structure and accessibility of online dating just fits with those kinds of people.