Are Guys on Dating Apps Looking For Relationships?

They say you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince, but in online dating, it seems like you have to swipe through a whole pond. With so many men at your fingertips, it’s hard to decipher who is genuinely looking for ‘The One’ and who is just in it for the ride.

Stick with us as we express our opinions about guys on dating apps.

Are Guys on Dating Apps Looking For Relationships?

To answer this question, we’ll take a look at 4 things covered below:

The Dating App Landscape

The world of dating apps is as diverse as the people who use them. Long gone are the days when Tinder was the only game in town.

Today, you’ve got options like Bumble, where women make the first move, and Hinge, which markets itself as the app designed to be deleted—meaning it aims to help you find a long-term partner.

Each platform attracts a slightly different demographic, influencing the intentions of the men you’ll find there.

For example, eHarmony and Match.com skew towards an older and likely more relationship-minded demographic, while apps like Tinder and OkCupid draw a younger, more varied crowd.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Statistics can offer a revealing look at user intent. According to a Pew Research Center study from 2020, nearly half of U.S. adults have dabbled in online dating.

Interestingly, while women are often accused of being more relationship-focused, the data suggests that a significant number of men are also seeking something serious.

Various surveys, indicate that nearly 30-40% of men on dating apps aim for a committed relationship, disproving the stereotype that men are only in it for casual encounters.

These figures don’t account for nuances, of course, but they do provide a broad snapshot that challenges preconceived notions.

What’s the Endgame?

Decoding the endgame for most men on dating apps can be a bit like reading tea leaves—messy and ambiguous.

Some men make it easy by being transparent about what they’re after. These are the guys who tag their profiles with labels like “Looking for a serious relationship” or “Here for a good time, not a long time.”

But then there’s the murky middle—the men who say they’re “open to possibilities” or “seeing where things go.”

These statements could mean anything from ‘I’m evaluating multiple options’ to ‘I’m just too lazy to type out what I really want.’ It adds a layer of complexity that often requires more direct communication to clear up.

The Tale of Two Extremes

The dating app environment is teeming with contrasting intents. On one end, you have those on a quest for immediate physical gratification.

These are the people who epitomize the ‘hookup culture’ that many associate with dating apps.

On the other end are the commitment-seekers, the ones who diligently read profiles, engage in meaningful conversations, and consider the long-term viability of each match.

These individuals often feel like needles in the proverbial haystack but make no mistake—they are a significant demographic, too.

This dichotomy forms the core tension in the world of dating apps, a pull between casual and serious that keeps many of us swiping, perhaps more out of curiosity than anything else.

Pros and Cons of Dating Apps

Now that we’ve taken a deep dive into what men are looking for on dating apps, let’s shift our focus a bit.

Let’s discuss the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly aspects of using these platforms.

Because if we’re to be honest, as revolutionary as dating apps have been for our love lives, they’re not without their drawbacks.

The Pros

1. Wide Range of Options: One of the most obvious benefits of dating apps is the sheer number of people you can meet. Never before has the dating pool been so expansive. You’re not limited to the guy who lives two blocks away or the one you occasionally bump into at your local grocery store. You can swipe on people from different cities, states, or even countries.
2. Efficiency: Time is money, or so they say, and dating apps allow you to save a lot of it. With a few swipes and messages, you can get to know someone—or at least gauge initial interest—without having to go through the sometimes awkward stages of initial real-world interactions.
3. Specificity: Many dating apps allow you to filter matches based on your preferences and deal-breakers. Want to date a vegetarian who loves dogs and is over 6 feet tall? There’s likely an app—or at least a filter—for that.

The Cons

1. Analysis Paralysis: Having options is great, but there can be such a thing as too many choices. The phenomenon known as ‘analysis paralysis’ describes how people can become overwhelmed when presented with too many options, making it difficult to make a decision.
2. Superficiality: It’s no secret that dating apps can promote superficial judgment. A decision about a potential life partner often gets reduced to a swipe left or right based on a handful of pictures and a 300-character bio.
3. Authenticity Gap: One of the biggest challenges is determining how genuine people are. Men could say they’re looking for a long-term relationship but act otherwise. Or they might use outdated or overly flattering photos, making the first date a lesson in expectation vs. reality.

Conclusion

So, where does this leave us? Clearly, dating apps have their pros and cons.

They’ve democratized dating and made it possible to meet people you might never cross paths with otherwise. Yet, they’ve also introduced new complexities and pitfalls into the equation.

As we continue to swipe right and left, perhaps the key is to approach these platforms with a mix of optimism and caution, aware of the limitations but open to the possibilities.