Kimberly Sanchez Rael, Chair of the Board of Regents at the University of New Mexico | The University of New Mexico
Kimberly Sanchez Rael, Chair of the Board of Regents at the University of New Mexico | The University of New Mexico
The landscape of dating has undergone significant changes over the past decade, with online platforms playing a crucial role in forming romantic relationships. According to Reuben Thomas, a Sociology Professor at the University of New Mexico, many American couples now meet through dating apps or websites rather than traditional avenues like family introductions or local organizations.
Thomas's research, published in 2020, investigates whether online dating leads to more diverse partnerships. His findings indicate that couples who meet online are more likely to be interracial and have differences in religious backgrounds or educational levels compared to those who meet offline. However, age remains a factor where similarities persist among online daters.
"People mostly have a circle of friends who are people of the same ethnicity, religion, even social class," Thomas explained. "When you go online, you can meet anybody in the metropolitan area...and that's suddenly a much more diverse starting place to find love."
Despite this potential for diversity, Thomas acknowledges that racial bias persists on these platforms. Users often show preferences for individuals within their own racial group. "People are far more likely to like, message, or respond to people of the same racial group as themselves," he noted. Nonetheless, the diversity inherent in online spaces still fosters numerous interracial relationships.
The study also reveals insights into user demographics and behaviors on dating apps. Middle-aged adults appear more likely to find partners online compared to younger adults. Additionally, men tend to initiate most interactions on these platforms.
"Oftentimes when you meet someone offline...it’s a slow percolating thing where they’re a friend then more than a friend," Thomas said about relationship dynamics. In contrast, those who connect online often enter relationships with clear intentions from the outset.
While acknowledging that his research is several years old and may not fully reflect current trends as of 2024, Thomas asserts that dating apps remain prevalent and unlikely to disappear soon: "I don’t see (dating apps) going away."
A 2023 report by Pew Research Center supports this view by indicating that three out of ten U.S. adults have used an online dating platform.
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