Singles turn to in-person dating events as app fatigue grows

Singles frustrated by dating-app swiping are turning to in-person events, where they can meet several potential partners face to face. The shift comes as use of dating sites remains widespread, but time spent on them has fallen from a 2023 peak, according to figures cited by the BBC [1].

At a speed-dating event in Guildford, 28-year-old Olivia Miller-Davis said she was tired of judging people from a few photographs and limited information. The event used an app to pair guests based on their star signs, mainly as an icebreaker.

Another guest, Edward, said he was fed up with dating apps. He argued that they were designed to keep users coming back rather than helping them find a lasting partner. That was his view, rather than an established finding about how apps work.

Events typically cost about £15 to £30, often including a drink and an activity. Candice Gallagher, who runs a social-media account reviewing dating events and says she attended 10 in 10 weeks, described them as better value than online dating. She said in-person gatherings offered more chances for conversation than online exchanges that go nowhere.

Cost can also affect whether people date at all. Miller-Davis said she put dating on hold while changing careers because she did not feel she was earning enough. The BBC cited a Barclays survey in which more than a quarter of daters said rising costs had changed how they date, alongside studies estimating monthly spending on dating-related costs at about £130.

Dating apps remain one way people meet. Research by Match Group, the owner of Tinder and Hinge, found that among surveyed people who had been in a romantic relationship, 20% met their most recent partner on a dating app and the same proportion through friends. The survey included 3,007 single people.

Match Group executive Chine Mmegwa said Tinder had added features including double-date mode and was bringing in-person events into its app. The company’s efforts reflect a broader push to combine online introductions with face-to-face meetings.

Miller-Davis said she left the Guildford event having met men she might consider dating, but would not say whether she had met “the one”.