Love digitally

In the 2008 study, Eli Finkel and Paul Eastwick found that though men and women say they have different priorities when searching for a mate - men are more likely to prize looks; women, money - both tend to go for similar types in real-life settings such as a speed-dating environment. The idea was corroborated in a report published last December by CMB - which is dedicated to helping its users find a committed relationship. It was revealed that 97 percent of Hong Kong people it surveyed are with someone who doesn't match their original dating criteria.

Such information is hardly the kind to deter people around the world from swiping, especially during a pandemic. Tinder saw a 40 percent increase in global usage in 2021, with conversations 32 percent longer than they were before COVID-19 struck. Unsurprisingly, an increasing number of users are opting for video dates prior to physical meetups. Singles' goals are also becoming less superficial: according to CMB's website, 90 percent of its users are looking for a serious relationship, while Bumble reported in November that 61 percent of its users now value emotional availability. Pandemic-related choices like wearing a mask, vaccination and consent to physical touching are also big topics of discussion.

Ties that bind

As pre-pandemic hookups are increasingly replaced with more meaningful encounters, app users are becoming more introspective about the traits they prioritize in a partner. This, says CMB co-founder and chief dating officer Dawoon Kang, is the first step toward a great relationship.