It’s hard to believe that we’re already in the third decade of the twenty-first century, but here we are. And with 2022 just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the future – including the future of dating.
The Future of Dating Apps in 2022
Dating apps have come a long way in the last few years. They used to be a bit of a joke, but nowadays, they’re an essential part of modern dating culture. And they show no signs of slowing down; in fact, they’re only going to get more popular in the years to come.
So what will the dating apps of 2022 look like? What will be the biggest trends? Here are our predictions:
1) AI-assisted dating will become even more popular
Dating has been called a “numbers game” for a long time, and that’s only going to become more true in the future. With so many people using dating apps, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd. That’s where AI comes in.
In 2022, it is likely that more and more dating apps will start using AI to help users find their perfect match. This could take the form of anything from simple chatbots to more sophisticated algorithms that match users based on their preferences and behavior.
AI can be used in many ways to improve the dating experience. For example, it can help to reduce ghosting by sending reminders to reply to messages. It can also be used to flag up potential red flags, such as when users are being too picky or have unrealistic expectations.
2) Augmented reality will become a key feature
Augmented reality (AR) is already starting to make its way into the world of dating apps. In 2018, Tinder launched its “Tinder Gold” service, which allows users to see who has already liked them before swiping. This year, Bumble launched an AR filter that allows users to see what they would look like with different hair and makeup styles.
It’s likely that AR will become even more popular in the world of dating in 2022. We could see apps using AR to allow users to “try on” different outfits before going on a date, or to see what they would look like with different hairstyles. We could also see AR being used for virtual dates, which would be perfect for people who are too busy to meet up in person.
3) Dating apps will become more niche
In recent years, we’ve seen a trend towards dating apps becoming more niche. This is likely to continue in 2022, as people increasingly use dating apps to find people with similar interests and values.
We’re already seeing this trend with apps like Bumble, which is geared towards women who want to make the first move, and Hinge, which is aimed at people who are looking for serious relationships.
There are numerous niches in the dating world already, from sugar daddy sites to apps for people that like a specific kind of music and it’s likely that even more will spring up in the next few years.
4) Blockchain will make its way into dating apps
Blockchain is already starting to make its way into the world of online dating. In 2018, a startup called Hicky launched a dating app that uses blockchain to verify users’ identities. This year, a new app called Ponder was launched that allows users to rate their dates and uses blockchain to reward good behavior.
It’s likely that we’ll see more dating apps using blockchain in the future. Blockchain can be used to verify users’ identities, which would help to reduce catfishing. It can also be used to create a decentralized user data database, making it harder for hackers to access.
5) Dating apps will get better at weeding out bad behavior
One of the biggest problems with dating apps is bad behavior from users. This ranges from things like ghosting and breadcrumbing to more serious offenses like harassment and abuse.
In 2022, it is likely that dating apps will start to get better at dealing with this problem. We could see apps introducing new features to deal with bad behavior, such as the ability to report abuse or flag up potential red flags. We could also see apps using AI to identify and block users who are behaving badly.
6) Privacy will become even more important
Privacy is already a big concern for people who use dating apps. In a recent survey, 60% of respondents said that they were worried about their privacy when using dating apps.
This concern is only likely to increase in the next few years as we become more aware of the ways in which our data can be used. In 2022, we could see dating apps introducing new features to help protect users’ privacy, such as end-to-end encryption and the ability to delete your data at any time.
7) Dating apps will help you find your perfect match
Finding a partner that is a good match for you can be hard, but dating apps are getting better at it. In the past, dating apps have used things like location and interests to try and find matches for users. However, in 2022, we could see apps start to use things like DNA and psychological tests to find users’ perfect matches.
This would be made possible by the increasing availability of DNA tests and the decreasing cost of sequencing genomes. We could also see AI being used to find matches for users, as it gets better at understanding our preferences and desires.
8) Swiping will become a thing of the past
Swiping is one of the most iconic features of dating apps, but it could start to die out in the next few years. This is because people are getting tired of swiping and want something more efficient.
In 2022, we could see a move towards apps that use other methods of selection, such as curated matches or video chat. We could also see a return to older methods of matchmaking, such as having friends set you up on dates.
Conclusion
Dating apps have come a long way in the last few years, and they have transformed the way we meet new people. In the next few years, we are likely to see even more changes as dating apps get better at matching us with our perfect partner and start to use cutting-edge technology like AI. So, whatever your dating preferences, there is sure to be an app for you in 2022.