The online dating industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Today, it is valued between $10-12 billion, with a CAGR of about 7.5%. At this growth pace, it is predicted that, by 2033, its value will be about $21.4 billion.
It’s time to sit up and take notice. Certainly, investors, tech developers, market analysts, and those looking to pierce foreign markets are. In fact, it is also predicted that Asia will experience the largest growth in this industry over the next several years.
How much do we really know about the online dating industry? Let’s take a brief look at its history.
The evolution of online dating
It all began in 1995, when two entrepreneurs decided to have online classified ads for singles looking for other singles to date. It began as a heterosexual site and included a database that matched singles based upon common keywords in their self descriptions. Certainly primitive by today’s standards. Still, it was the beginning of a revolution.
Over the decades since then, online dating sites and apps have pursued their corner of the market, offering a variety of benefits in response to demands of a public that has insisted on speed, efficiency, and value, as the consumers they are. While it may go “against the grain” of people who rely on traditional methods for dating, online dating has become a phenomenon that cannot be ignored.
The phenomenon was certainly greatly advanced during the pandemic, when isolated people turned to online dating as a “cure” for their loneliness. And many predicted its demise once that was over. Quite the reverse happened, however, and there was only a continued expansion.
Today, fully one-third of the US population has accessed and joined at least one online dating app, taking advantage of the many benefits. These include opportunities to connect with those who share their passions, interests, and values and to spend time getting to know potentials before committing to spending time, energy, and money on moving forward in relationships.
Societal shifts in relationships
At the same time that online dating continues to thrive, there are societal shifts that have taken place as well.
While monogamy remains the “traditional” concept and pursuit, a growing number of singles and those in monogamous partnerships are exploring a variety of other relationship options – options that are increasingly acceptable by an ever-expanding new generation.
Sometimes these are called “open marriages” or partnerships; other times they may be referred to as “ethical non-monogamy” or “polyamorous dating.” Whatever they are called, the concept is the same. Couples in a partnership agree to open up that partnership to others, for a variety of reasons – perhaps to spice up their sex life; perhaps to form emotional and/or intellectual bonds with others that are not satisfied in their current monogamous relationship.
And, like any industry does, online dating apps are responding to market demand by providing for polyamorous online relationship preferences and recognizing those who wish to have them by including that identity and sexual orientation in their systems and algorithms of matching daters.
Toward an understanding of modern polyamory
It’s most often referred to as ethical non-monogamy, and it comes with some principles to which all parties agree, specifically honesty, transparency, mutual consent, and ethical behavior. In this respect, ethical non-monogamy (ENM) is wholly different from cheating or from the Latter Day Saints form of polygamy. The important key is that all parties are fully aware of the specific arrangement and all agree to it.
ENM takes many different forms:
- Polyamory is the practice of having romantic relationships at the same time with multiple others, agreed upon by all of them.
- Open relationships in which couples agree to sexual encounters outside of their primary partnership.
- Swinging in which couples engage in recreational sex with other individuals or couples, usually at predetermined settings.
- Monogamish arrangement in which couples who are usually monogamous allow limited and occasional sexual activity outside of their partnership.
- Relationship anarchy: All traditional relationships are rejected and all participants agree to as many flexible and non-exclusive encounters as they want.
- Solo polyamory: Participants live by themselves and engage in multiple consensual relationships.
The ethics involved are clear. They involve transparency and honesty, mutual consent, full respect for participants’ boundaries (emotional and sexual limits clearly defined and fully honored), and regular communication to ensure that everyone is still on the same page.
With all of this in mind, like any prudent industry, the online dating one is responding to market demand by providing for polyamorous online relationship preferences and recognizing those who wish to have them by including that identity and sexual orientation in their systems and algorithms for matching dating members.
What follows are several of these apps that are meeting this market demand.
Feeld
People can join Feeld as singles or as couples. It is location-based, so that those who want to meet up in person or find local spots for swingers can do so. Others keep their encounters in the digital realm.
Obviously, Feeld is for the very open-minded polyamorous crowd who want alternative relationship structures, including, of course, ethical non-monogamy. The majority of Feeld users are heterosexual couples who are looking to spice up their sex lives and who have agreed to do so on this app.
PolyFinda
Here is a niche dating platform for all types of polyamorous relationships. It, too, is location-based by state. Once users click on their states, they will find “ads” from singles and couples who are ready to have polyamorous relationships of all types. They will also find local polyamory groups who get together for friendships or more.
Local polyamory events are also publicized by state.
PolyFinda has plenty of resources and educational articles which help couples to establish honest and transparent ethical non-monogamous agreements.
Taimi
Taimi is not an ethical non-monagamous dating app. In fact, it is a massive platform for the entire LGBTQ+ population that includes polyamorous dating. It has built-in features specifically to support ENM users.
The dating pool for ENM members is quite large, considering Taimi has over 29 million members, the majority of whom reside in the US.
A standout feature for Taimi is its built-in mini social media platform with groups for anyone to join, and many of them are for polyamorous members, so they may connect, share advice and life experiences, and speak to challenges and successes in their relationships.
Beyond Two
This is an app that welcomes everyone, no matter what their current relationship status, gender, or background. Singles and couples who are interested in polyamorous encounters of any kind may join and use the app free of charge.
The goal of this app is to encourage couples to ethically go beyond their partnership for whatever their relationship goals may be, even just friendships. It’s a place for couples and singles to “…meet, solve problems, and discuss issues that they feel are important…” In doing so, the founders of the app hope to empower the community as a whole.
HER
Originally founded by a lesbian as a dating app for queer women, HER rapidly expanded to include virtually everyone – heterosexuals and the entire LGBTQ+ population. Today it is 15 million strong and still growing, with its major membership in the US, UK, and Australia.
Ethical non-monogamy is supported and embraced on HER where this segment of the population can find like-mindeds for mutually desired types of relationships. There is a community atmosphere for polyamorous singles and couples to connect and share experiences, challenges, and advice on how to design successful ENM agreements.
An industry that is here and growing
It’s impossible to ignore the continued growth of the online dating industry. It’s also impossible to ignore societal evolutions within this industry. Polyamorous dating and relationships is only one of these evolutions, but a trend to keep in mind.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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