Dating app burnout prompts singles to engage in new dating events
Singles are increasingly turning away from digital dating apps due to burnout and frustration, opting instead for in-person social events. New niche activities, such as 'Chicken Rush' in London, are gaining popularity as alternatives to swiping.
Why it matters
The shift reflects a broader cultural fatigue with gamified technology and a growing desire for authentic, real-world social interactions.
The pitfalls of gamified dating apps are more reviled than ever: the ghosting, the overly curated profiles, being left feeling disposable and the endless added costs for features that fail to deliver. A Forbes’ survey of 5,000 Americans found that 80% of Millennials and 79% of Gen-Z feel burned out by dating apps — blaming the lack of good connections, repetitive conversations and too much time spent swiping. In the UK, communications-industry regulator Ofcom reported a decline in the popularity of the three most popular apps in 2024; Tinder dropped 594,000 users, while Hinge lost 131,000 and Bumble lost 368,000. After years of dating apps reigning supreme, in real-life (IRL) singles events are slowly replacing swipes and filters with activities, taking pressure off the end goal. For those who love the chase … and chicken?
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