Overview
- Clear-coding leads the list, with 64% saying dating needs more emotional honesty, 60% calling for clearer intentions, and 73% knowing they’re interested when they can be fully themselves.
- Value alignment is now a filter, as 41% would not date someone with opposing political views and top dealbreakers include racial justice (37%), family perspectives (36%) and LGBTQ+ rights (32%).
- Friends are active co-pilots, with 42% saying their circle shapes who they date and 37% expecting more group or double dates, reflected in uptake of Tinder’s Double Date feature among under‑30s and women.
- Emotional availability is rising, with 56% prioritizing honest conversations, 45% seeking more empathy after rejection, and “hopeful” emerging as the top word describing dating going into 2026.
- Technology is part of the toolkit, as 76% say they would use AI for planning dates, selecting photos or crafting bios, alongside a preference for simple first meetings like coffee or walks and the calm “low‑key lover.”