Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Gleeden, Badoo, Facebook Dating, or Happn are experiencing a shift in their usage. According to Silvia Rubies, Communications Director for Latam at Gleeden, users are no longer seeking love on these platforms, but prefer to have affairs. In Mexico, a study by Gleeden Latam revealed that over 2.5 million dating app users are looking for affairs rather than love, especially people aged between 29 and 31 who spend an average of 20 dollars a month on these apps.
Silvia Rubies explained that dating apps have become a safe space for those seeking relationships outside of monogamy, including unfaithful individuals, polyamorous people, open couples, swingers, and singles who do not want commitments. According to the study, subscriptions from users looking only for affairs increased by 145% in 2024. Additionally, around 30% of dating app users are not single, preferring to hide their marital status in search of affairs outside their monogamous relationships.
Regarding dating app preferences, Tinder and Bumble dominate the market with 93% and 83% of downloads respectively. Grindr holds third place with 27% market share, followed by other apps like Badoo, Happn, OkCupid, Inner Circle, and Lovoo. According to Rolando Alamilla in the study "Love in the Times of Telecom", Bumble is more efficient than Tinder in partner searches, with a 57.1% success rate compared to Tinder's 14.3%.
However, the increase in the use of these apps has also led to a rise in romantic scams. According to Norton, four out of ten users have fallen victim to scams on dating apps, such as sextortion (20% incidence) and the Sugar Daddy scam (23% incidence). Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Innovation Director for Norton, warned about cyber scams on these platforms, urging users to stay vigilant against potential online fraud and not to share sensitive information or send money to strangers.
