Tinder, the world’s most popular dating app for meeting new people, has released new insights about how 18-25-year-old young singles in Mumbai are supercharging dating by challenging traditional relationship goals and gender stereotypes and embracing clear and intentional dating. Dating apps have become a bonafide stepping stone into the dating pool for many singles, with Tinder standing out as the #1 most-downloaded dating app amongst 18 year olds globally to forge authentic connections that reflect their individuality.
More than half (64%) young adults in Mumbai believe that dating apps allow them to meet people they would otherwise never have met – even those outside their social circle opening them up to a world of endless possibilities.1 To uncover the current landscape of dating, Tinder’s Future of Dating, Mumbai edition shares insights on how young singles in the city navigate romance and meaningful connections with a fresh and fun approach.
Quote on behalf of Aahana Dhar, Director of Communications, Tinder India, “We are excited to reveal new insights about how the future of dating is shaping up in Mumbai. This generation of young adults is ushering in a new era of dating that values meaningful connections and overall well-being. They prioritize shared interests, lifestyle preferences and dating intent outweighing everything else when considering someone’s profile. Whether it’s finding love through manifesting or placing a strong emphasis on mental health and clear boundaries, they’re at the forefront of redefining modern romance. Tinder is proud to be a part of their journey, connecting them to endless possibilities.”
6 Dating Trends in Mumbai from Tinder
1. NO MORE GUESSING GAMES: When using dating apps, 60%of Genz in Mumbai say that their matches seem more attractive if they state their dating intentions clearly.1 This is a cohort that’s prioritizing qualities like intentionality and transparency, with personal fulfillment being a primary consideration. They also know exactly what they’re looking for when considering someone’s profile, with interests, lifestyle preferences and dating intent outweighing everything else. In fact, 48% young singles in Mumbai pick situationships (a relationship without any pre-set agendas centered around transparency and freedom) as their current dating preference.1 Tinder offers young singles a world of dating possibilities and the most popular Relationship Goals for Mumbai Tinder users on the app is ‘Short-term, open to long’.3
2. EQUAL PARTNERSHIP IN LOVE AND LIFE: The value of real connection and presenting their ‘true selves’ is high on Gen Z’s agendas when it comes to dating. Case in point is 91% young singles in Mumbai agree that being aligned on work ethic and career ambitions with a match is important to them.1 Financial compatibility is also an important criteria with 83% of surveyed singles rating attitudes about money as important.1 These numbers clearly indicate how young singles in Mumbai are approaching rules of compatibility, showing they are no longer keeping their requirements for shared values in career and finances to themselves.
Kritika Damwani, 23-year-old Tinder user from Mumbai, shares her story “Working from home made me wonder how to meet new people and find a date. That’s when I tried Tinder! I had an incredible date where we bonded over our love for anime and movies, and decided to watch an anime movie at the Japanese Film Festival for our first date. We also discovered that we both shared a passion for entrepreneurship. He had a logistics startup, and I was just starting my journey in entrepreneurship. Our shared ambition was a major attraction for me! But what really clicked was our common values of independence and authenticity. I was looking for someone I could be myself with, and he wanted a real, meaningful connection that could grow naturally. It felt like destiny, and Tinder was the cupid!”
3. DATING STARTS WITH ME: Gen Z in Mumbai is willing to be more real and honest about their relationship with mental health and the need to prioritize it. 81% young singles in Mumbai find matches who prioritise their mental well-being more attractive and an equal number say that having a partner who values self care is critical to a happy relationship.1 Even if many young singles are prioritizing other parts of their life, relationships are a big part of their journey to self discovery and improvement. It’s no coincidence that 80% say they will never compromise on self-care practices or boundaries for a relationship.1
4. WELCOME TO MY MANIFESTATION ERA: GenZ believes in the power of manufacturing your own joy. While star signs may be one of the top descriptors added to Tinder profiles by 18-25 year olds globally, there’s a new spiritual sheriff in town. 41% of young singles globally believe manifesting (i.e. mentally visualizing your wishes/dreams to help them come true) is the new Astrology and has an undeniably larger influence on compatibility and connection than Zodiac signs.4 In fact, there has been a 66% increase in the mentions of ‘manifesting’ in Tinder India bios in 2023.5 For a generation that’s highly aware of their inner state, this self-help technique is a no brainer.
5. WORLD IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD: Travel is the #1 interest on Tinder for young singles in Mumbai.6 With almost half (47%) of young singles in Mumbai open to finding love in another city/country and dating people from other races and culture, dating has become more diverse –racially, culturally and geographically– than ever before.1 With Tinder Passport young singles can match with anyone, anywhere in the world, by simply changing their location on the app. With 18-25 year olds globally passporting on average 9 times a month, the world is clearly theirs for the taking.3 Top destinations in India where young singles in Mumbai passport to are Bangalore, Delhi and Pune and top international cities are Dubai, London, New York.7
6. REDEFINING DATING TRADITIONS: Gen Z is challenging long standing views of sexuality, gender and also ethnicity and culture. Gen Z’s rejection of traditional gender roles is validated by their dating patterns as 75% young singles in Mumbai agree that their generation is challenging traditional gender stereotypes that were passed down from previous generations.1 Moreover, 52% of young Mumbaikars are open to dating someone with a diverse gender, sexuality or identity. In fact, 33% of millennials also agree that dating is healthier (more honest, more open, with a focus on prioritising mental health) for 18-25 year olds today than it was when they were of the same age1 Clearly, dating has become more diverse –racially, culturally and geographically– than ever before.