The traces of online dating go as far back as the 90s — 30 years ago, more or less — and a lot has changed since then. The device one would date on, for instance, has transformed into a small candy bar from a huge chonky desktop monitor in their childhood home.

The dating preferences — who to date and how to date — for people have also wildly changed, especially with the newer generation. In its recent Future of Dating Report, dating app Tinder found that 69% of the Gen Z population believe that dating standards need refreshing to fit a more modern and diverse society.

About 71% of the Gen Z population in India said that it’s very important that they’re aligned on values with the person they’re dating. “To further detail this, when asked what’s important to them when choosing someone to date, 73% said ‘I can trust and confide in them,’ 70% said ‘they are open-minded and accepting’ and 57% said ‘they can make me laugh’ versus only 46% who said ‘I find them physically attractive.’,” Tinder said in a statement.

Mark Van Ryswyk, Chief Product Officer at Tinder, highlighted the shift in focus, stating, "Connecting today is about authenticity, depth, and the desire for connections that go beyond the surface. This suite of features is the response to this evolving need." The new generation of daters, according to the report, values qualities such as respect and open-mindedness over physical looks.

For a platform that was initially designed in a manner that prioritised looks over everything else, Tinder has come a long way and to keep up with that spirit, the company has announced several new features as well.

Profile Prompts:

Nudging users to express their unique personalities, this feature enables individuals to share more than just their photos. Users can respond to prompts like "The key to my heart is," "The first item on my bucket list is," and "Two truths and a lie," fostering deeper and more engaging conversations.

Profile Quiz: Offering a fun and enlightening quiz about oneself, this feature allows users to showcase their preferences and interests, providing a glimpse into compatibility potential with potential matches.

Basic Info Tags: Minimising guesswork, users can now share crucial information about themselves through tags covering everything from pets and drinking habits to zodiac signs and love languages.

Enhanced Reporting: The upgraded reporting system provides users with more options to report specific profile elements, ensuring a safer and more respectful experience on the platform.

Rizz-first Redesign: Tinder introduces a fresh look and feel, complete with UI updates, enhanced animations, and a new and iconic "It's a Match!" screen designed to make every Like or Nope on Tinder feel special and engaging.

Dark Mode: Recognising the need for late-night or discreet matching, Tinder now offers Dark Mode in its settings, setting the app apart as the exclusive major dating platform providing this feature.

Tinder is currently available in 190 countries and over 45 languages. Since its inception in 2012, it has reportedly been downloaded over 530 million times.

Also Read: For women in India, 2024 is going to be the 'year of self' when it comes to dating priorities

(Edited by : Vijay Anand)