Dating apps are constantly changing and evolving. I’ve been on and off the dating apps over the past 10 years, but I’ve noticed the most changes when I got back on them recently. The downside is that these trends are actually making it harder to find love this time around.
Here are five dating app trends I didn’t expect to see in 2025.
1. Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM)
I’ve come across so many dating app profiles for people who practice ethical non-monogamy, or ENM, on Bumble and Tinder this time around. Often, these profiles include “ENM” in their bio, but sometimes they state things like, “In a happy marriage. Looking for someone to date. My wife is fully aware.”
Don’t get me started on the fact that I often question if the wife is aware of this so-called open relationship. All of that aside, it makes it difficult to find true love when I’m having to swipe through many people in (alleged) ENM relationships.
The only good thing about seeing ENM in so many profiles is that people are being upfront about this lifestyle choice. Now, if we could just get someone to create a dating app specifically for ENM users, it would make life a whole lot easier.
2. AI-Generated Profiles
I’ve only noticed this dating app trend on Tinder. Their profile photos are ridiculously gorgeous and their bios are usually intriguing, but it’s easy to tell that something isn’t authentic about these users. They look too perfect. And when you accidentally match with one of them, they tend to send you the exact same type of message. It’s something along the lines of, “Everyone I’ve talked to has only wanted sex or money! Has it been the same for you?”
I know they’re just trying to build trust so they can try to take your money (or maybe even human traffic you). In either case, you have to be careful to spot those AI dating app profiles. It would be a whole lot easier to find love if Tinder wasn’t filled with them.
3. Lack of Visibility
I did a lot of research on this one to confirm my suspicions, and I was right: the dating app algorithms are all geared to make it harder for you to meet someone. The biggest issue? They’re not showing you other members (or showing your profile to them, either). It feels like there’s no one on the dating apps, but the problem is that the apps aren’t showing you anyone who lives within a reasonable distance. We’re being shown members who live far away to make it harder.
The end result? Having to stay on the apps longer to meet someone who you can realistically form a relationship with.
The Bottom Line
Finding love on dating apps in 2025 isn’t easy. I’m not giving up hope yet, but it makes me wish more than ever before that it was easier to meet someone organically. I will likely be making more deliberate efforts to meet someone IRL than on the dating apps.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Good Faces Agency on Unsplash
