Speed dating on the rise as ‘dating app fatigue’ kicks in

In-person dating events like speed dating are surging across the country as singles experiencing “dating app fatigue” shift to more traditional or alternative ways to find love.

Speed dating events saw a 63% surge in the first few months of last year compared to the same period in 2022, according to ticketing platform Eventbrite.

What is speed dating?
The in-person event allows individuals to have short, timed interactions with potential romantic partners. Started by a Rabbi for Jewish singles in Los Angeles in 1998, it quickly gained popularity and expanded worldwide.

Matchmaking professionals say speed dating is trending due to people finding difficulty in making genuine connections online. The shift comes as the world moves away from the COVID-19 pandemic-era restrictions, too.

Additionally, dating apps are also accused of being intentionally addictive and manipulative, making users swipe more and spend on app features than find a relationship.

However, speed dating presents its own challenges, such as talking to strangers and handling rejection.

Not just speed dating
Attendance at in-person dating events in the US also grew 42% in 2023 from the year before.

Game-based dating events grew by 163%, and athletic dating events such as pickleball and spin classes saw a 135% rise on Eventbrite last year.

Meanwhile, demands fell for dating apps. Tinder-owner Match Group saw a 5% year-over-year decline in paying customers in 2023, and Bumble recently announced plans to lay off 30% of its workforce.

Dating apps Thursday and Bumble are adapting by incorporating in-person events into their platforms.