In the economy of affection, currency is rarely just the heart. A hefty salary, lavish gifts, and the `right` social circle often buy a prime spot in the queue for love. These parameters also dictated who would meet whom.
Is digital dating making romance more democratic? According to a new survey from QuackQuack, the answer appears to be yes. The app`s research, which polled a diverse group of 13,000 Indians between 20 and 35, revealed that the “tap, chat, and match” model is significantly eroding traditional barriers, suggesting romance is becoming less tied to financial standing and more inclusive. Respondents were selected from various educational and professional fields to understand how these differences affect people`s dating preferences.
QuackQuack`s founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, added, “The most prominent thing that online dating offers to people is the chance to connect beyond their immediate circles. It democratises access, making way for love that cuts across economic, geographical, educational, and even cultural divides.”
Love beyond a predictable environment
While dating in real life, people find love within their known social circle: workplace, college campus, or the same club or restaurant they frequently visit, and it is mostly segregated by class and income. But in online dating, this wall is broken down. Over 37 per cent of daters between 28 and 35 years revealed in the survey that they would`ve never crossed paths with their matches in their life offline.
Among all those who participated in the survey, 19 per cent of the participants disclosed that their perfect match is from a different economic and educational background. They also admitted to initial hesitation in dating someone who doesn`t have the exact job or salary they would`ve preferred in their partner. Still, their instant connection and interaction removed those doubts. Awantika (29) from New Delhi said, “I met Varun online, and he wasn`t exactly the CA with a six-figure salary that I was looking for. However, our conversations and mentality were so in sync that losing a perfect match just to meet some set expectations seemed foolish. And I`m also sure I would`ve never met a high school physics teacher (Varun) in my real life.”
Personality over wealth mindset
The survey shows that in digital dating, a higher wit is worth more than a heavier wallet. 26 per cent of women from Tier 1 and 2 cities claimed that the days of judging someone by the brands they wear, the car they drive, or the restaurant they take you to for the first date are coming to an end. In online dating, it`s more about the consistent effort and easy-flowing conversation, not the expensive gifts. 3 in 5 daters between 25 and 30 shared that while they believe that clothes and material wealth do help build confidence and initial attraction, in an online setup unsuitable for flaunting financial status, personality and humor shine brighter.
Low-cost, high-effort environment
Online dating doesn`t require as much disposable income as dating in real life. Constantly meeting in restaurants, cafes, transport, gifts, has discouraged a lot of people from pursuing a connection, especially when there is a clear economic difference. On the other hand, browsing, matching, and chatting are essentially free or come at a nominal fee, making dating accessible to a wider pool of people. 33 per cent of daters from Tier 2 and 3 cities said that socialising offline isn`t always viable; for these participants, dating apps offer a much lower-cost avenue for meaningful connection.
Dating apps have also reduced the financial burden of the early stages of dating. The online setup is significantly low-pressure. Over 23 per cent of daters between 20 and 28 years revealed that their first in real life meetup cost something between 500 and 700 rupees because in the online dating world, the simplicity of visiting a basic cafe together or going for a chai date is trending over visiting expensive places. Kaustav (27), from Kolkata, said, “I have noticed that women online always suggest a low-budget date idea when compared to someone I met in real life. I suppose when you meet a lot of different types of people online, you become more considerate and kind.”
