Dating has changed a lot over the years. Thus far, the 21st century has proven to be the Age of the Dating Apps. One 2023 survey found that among people who met someone on a dating app, almost 70% said it led to a long-term relationship.
Dating apps are mostly dominated by the younger crowd. Middle-aged and older people often prefer other forms of dating, such as online dating or meeting people by chance.
Those aren’t the only differences between generations, either. Our dating goals seem to be different as well. We’ll discuss that in more detail here.
“Hookup” Culture
While it’s unfair to say that younger people only care about sex, America’s attitudes towards sex and sexuality have become more laid-back with each generation. Religion is among the biggest reasons for this. A few generations ago, over 90% of Americans identified as Christian and said that their religion was “very important” to them.
In 2023, one-fifth of Americans reported that they weren’t religious at all, and less than half said that religion is “very important” to them. With attitudes around religion becoming more relaxed, it makes sense that our attitudes about the sexual standards of religion are too.
Internet Dating
The rise of the internet in the 1990s contributed to sexual liberation in its own way. It also paved the way for online dating and other digital dating trends. The first dating website was launched in 1995 and is still running today. People loved online dating because it took much of the guesswork out of courtship.
Online dating filled the role of the matchmaker that had mostly disappeared from Western culture. Instead of going on blind dates or hoping to meet somebody in a bar or cafe, dating sites allowed single people to describe what they wanted in a relationship and a partner, and let a computer algorithm sort it out.
Meeting Up
Despite the opportunities and dating expectations of the modern age, many people still prefer to meet people the old-fashioned way. While this isn’t a bad way to go about things, many of us tend to meet people when we don’t need to, specifically if we’re already in a relationship.
In many cases, it’s more mature, settled people who end up straying, and this can lead to divorce. One user in particular commented that many of their married friends are struggling due to a desire for change.
For this reason, generational dating goals often revolve around excitement. People moving on from failed marriages or long relationships often look for excitement moving forward. We all want commitment, compatibility, and stability, but not at the cost of spontaneity.
Dating Goals Across Generations
While dating has changed a lot over time, people’s dating goals have mostly stayed the same. Most of us want to meet someone whom we can spend the rest of our lives with.
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