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As the first generation to grow up online,
Gen Z has had to navigate relationships in a world where constant screen time and endless scrolling have made finding human connection difficult. Yet, Gen Z singles aren’t giving up. Not only do they yearn for romance, but they’re taking a new approach to building relationships and redefining what it means to be in one. A new survey by the Harris Poll, commissioned by Match Group, revealed that 80% of Gen Z singles believe they’ll find true love, compared to just 57% of all U.S. singles, but only 55% feel they’re ready to pursue a relationship right now. Instead, Gen Z expressed a desire for “low-pressure” connection, but that does not mean a preference for casual or superficial relationships. In fact, the research shows the opposite: Young people want depth, emotional safety, and meaning, without the fear that every interaction must immediately lead to traditional milestones or rigid labels.
55
%
80
%
of Gen Z singles believe they’ll find true love but only
feel like they’re ready for partnership.
This emphasis on shared values, ambitions, and self-actualization is raising demands for platforms that facilitate more meaningful, intentional connections. “Traditionally, dating apps were evaluated only on facilitating matches,” says Chine Mmegwa, head of strategy, corporate development, and business operations at Match Group, which has the largest global portfolio of popular online dating services, including Hinge, Tinder, and Match. “But Gen Z is showing us that we can also serve users by giving them tools that enable them to learn more about themselves as they are building connections.”
Gen Z represents a key and rapidly evolving demographic across Match Group’s core platforms, particularly on apps such as Tinder and Hinge, where younger users are highly engaged. As Gen Z pushes for low-pressure entry points into connection, identity exploration, and pathways into relationships, Match Group’s portfolio of apps is evolving to meet users where they are
through smart algorithms, value-driven discovery features, and product design that supports self-reflection and intentionality. The changes go beyond following trends and signal a broader rethink of what modern dating should support.
Chine Mmegwa
Head, Strategy, Corporate Development and Operations at Match Group
People have long sought guidance on how to date, and etiquette books and advice columns have helped identify the norms that structure courtship. But the dating landscape has changed, and as Gen Z singles pursue relationships, they are increasingly leaning on technology for help beyond finding romance. Sixty-six percent of survey participants say they’re looking for belonging on the apps, not just social interaction, while 64% are actively looking to make platonic friends.
of users say they’re looking for belonging on the apps, not just social interaction.
%
66
of users are actively looking to make platonic friends.
%
64
“Our mission is to help people spark meaningful connections, and research is the essential first step in understanding our users so we can create better outcomes for them,” says Mmegwa. “We can’t operate on assumptions or outdated models of how dating works, especially at a moment when expectations for relationships are shifting so quickly.”
“We’re seeing Gen Z moving toward more flexible, lower pressure entry points into connection, including spaces that allow exploration without high stakes right away,” says Dr. Justin Garcia, executive director, Kinsey Institute. “Young people want less pressure and more positive vibes.”
— Justin Garcia, Ph.D.,
Executive Director, Kinsey Institute
To spark these deeper connections both on and off the apps, Match Group has introduced features designed to lower anxiety, encourage exploration, and foster more thoughtful interactions. Tinder’s “Modes” make it easier for users to connect with like-minded people within shared communities; “Double Date” offers a dedicated space for pairs of friends to peruse other pairs of friends, making it easier to connect with users seeking a similar kind of match; and “College Mode” helps undergrads meet new people from nearby campuses and incorporates school-specific profile elements such as graduation year, major, Greek life, and clubs. On Hinge, features such as “Prompt Feedback” help users express themselves on their profiles, while “Your Turn Limits” encourages more responsiveness that can move people closer to meeting in person.
“These aren’t just nudges,” says Mmegwa. “They actively shape behavior in ways that lead to more meaningful interactions and stronger connections over time. Low pressure doesn’t mean lower standards—it means removing the fear that keeps people from starting. This is a strategic shift
toward social-first discovery that supports a wider range of outcomes, whether that’s romance, friendship, or something not yet defined.”
While AI drives these features, Match Group built them to humanize dating, ensuring technology enhances genuine connections rather than substituting for them.
“AI can act as a mirror for people’s emotions, offer language to describe how they’re feeling, and be a safe space to prepare for sensitive human conversations, but it shouldn’t become a crutch,” says Amelia Miller, researcher and human-AI relationship expert. “AI and dating apps can help model what healthy courtship looks like in the digital age, but it should never directly mediate conversations or try to eliminate the uncertainty that’s inherent to the pursuit of love and romance. Real intimacy requires vulnerability, and vulnerability is uncomfortable.”
— Amelia Miller,
Researcher and Human-AI Relationship Expert
Across Tinder and Hinge, AI is deployed selectively to reduce cognitive load, spark better conversations, and surface compatibility, without removing the friction that helps relationships grow. The strategy prioritizes fewer, higher quality interactions over endless choice, aligning with Gen Z’s desire for connection without burnout.
“We believe AI should help draw out your humanity and support interpersonal connections, not replace them,” says Mmegwa. “The goal is always to enhance human connection, not automate it or smooth over what makes someone uniquely themselves.”
of Gen Z and millennial users say that dating apps help them learn about themselves.
%
80
Taken together, the research suggests that many of the skills Gen Z is striving to develop—including communication, boundary-setting, and emotional regulation—are not prerequisites for connection but products of it. By creating lower stakes experiences that help people gain confidence, clarity, and social skills, Match Group is innovating in ways that reflect how people actually want to date today, not how dating used to work. “The dating platforms that will succeed are the ones that help people feel safe enough to begin, rather than feeling overwhelmed by demands to feel perfect first,” adds Garcia. “You can’t learn to swim by reading about water. At some point, you have to take a step and get in the pool.”
To learn more about The Human Connection Study and how Gen Z is redefining romance, read the full Match Group report here.
