How Often Are Dating Apps Used for Casual Sex? New Study Explains Key Factors
The use of smartphones and mobile technology has changed how people meet romantic partners, and dating apps have become a popular way to find both relationships and casual sex, or “hookups.” About 40% of heterosexual couples had met online by 2017, and by 2023, about 14% of U.S. adults reported using these apps.
Studies show that dating apps are especially popular among men who have sex with men (MSM) and are linked to riskier sexual behavior and higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They’re also associated with risky behaviors like drug and alcohol use. While research has focused on the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community, there’s less information about dating app use in the general population. Therefore, a new study aims to provide a clearer picture of dating app use across the U.S.
This study used data from the National Survey for Family Growth (NSFG), which surveys U.S. residents aged 15 to 49 about their sexual and family behaviors. The survey oversampled groups like African Americans, Hispanics, and teenagers to improve accuracy. Researchers used responses from the 2017-2019 cycle of this survey and focused on participants who answered a question about using dating apps for sexual activity in the past year. They also gathered information on the age, sex, race, income, health, sexual history, and substance use of the participants.
To analyze the data, the researchers used statistical models to find factors linked to dating app use and tested if dating app users reported more frequent sex. They divided the data into subgroups (e.g., men, women, heterosexual, and LGB) for more detailed insights.
A total of 11,225 survey respondents, representing around 143 million individuals, were analyzed. Of these, 6% used dating apps, with most users being younger (average 28.9 vs. 32.2 years) and more likely to reside in metropolitan areas. Dating app users were typically unmarried (78% vs. 49.5%) or divorced (10.4% vs. 6.7%) and had higher levels of education, with 38.5% having at least some college education compared to 28.4% in non-users.
Health-wise, dating app users were more likely to have a normal BMI (35.3% vs. 25.9%) and reported higher rates of prior sexual experience (90.5% vs. 86.9%). They also showed higher rates of substance use (17.6% vs. 3.7%) and alcohol consumption (93.8% vs. 78.2%). STI rates were notably higher in dating app users (13.2% vs. 2.4%). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding sex, race, income, insurance status, or general health.
In the end, the study found that around 6% of individuals met sexual partners through dating apps, with male sex, white race, LGB identity, previous sexual experience, history of STIs, and substance use linked to higher usage. LGB communities showed particularly high engagement, with over 50% using these platforms.
Trends across multiple studies showed that dating app users often displayed riskier behaviors, such as multiple partners, unprotected sex, and higher STI rates. There were also associations with higher impulsivity and potential mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and psychological distress.
Nevertheless, contrary to expectations, the study found no increase in overall sexual frequency for dating app users, suggesting that many may seek stable relationships rather than casual encounters. Still, public health concerns have arisen with increased dating app use, due to rising STI rates, particularly in younger users. Interventions targeting these groups could potentially leverage dating apps to promote safe practices.
The researchers acknowledged limitations for this study, including a reliance on self-reported data, the absence of specific app details, and the pre-pandemic dataset. Despite these issues, this study remains one of the largest evaluations of dating app use in the US. It also highlights the need for continued public health efforts and partnerships with dating app companies to reduce STI risks and improve sexual health outcomes.
For more information on this topic, please read this publication from Sexual Medicine Reviews:
Sexological Aspects Related to Tinder Use: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
References:
Ha, A., Scott, M., Zhang, C. A., Glover, F., Basran, S., Del Giudice, F., & Eisenberg, M. L. (2024). Factors associated with dating app use for sexual “hookups” in the United States: Insights from the National Survey of Family Growth. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21(9), 762–769. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae083
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