Love in the Time of COVID-19 is Virtually Booming, Tinder Says
Tami Abdollah was dot.LA's senior technology reporter. She was previously a national security and cybersecurity reporter for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C. She's been a reporter for the AP in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times and for L.A.'s NPR affiliate KPCC. Abdollah spent nearly a year in Iraq as a U.S. government contractor. A native Angeleno, she's traveled the world on $5 a day, taught trad climbing safety classes and is an avid mountaineer. Follow her on Twitter.
The novel coronavirus may have forced people into physical isolation, but it has not stopped people from trying to romantically connect with others. It appears, in fact, that love in the time of COVID-19 is virtually booming.
That's according to data provided by online dating app Tinder. The West Hollywood-based company says that starting mid-March -- as the numbers of those infected with the novel virus began to climb and many people were ordered to stay home -- daily messages were up 10-15% compared to the week prior in the U.S.
In Italy and Spain, daily conversation was up 25% compared to the week prior and conversation length was up anywhere from 10-30% over February in places like Europe and Southeast Asia.
People have also taken to using key trending public health terms in their bios, or app profiles. Top terms include "stay home," "be safe," "social distancing" and "wash your hands."
Tinder CEO Elie Seidman said in a message released this week that the team is working to remove geographic barriers so that people can match and chat with someone new no matter their location. As a result, Tinder allowed all subscribers to use its Passport feature for free.
The company is also strongly urging those who do connect to keep their interactions digital for now.
__
Do you have a story that needs to be told? My DMs are open on Twitter @latams. You can also email me, or ask for my Signal.
- Tinder's is Now Under GDPR Probe - dot.LA ›
- Here Are the Investors Still Writing Checks During the Coronavirus ... ›
- Coronavirus Updates: - dot.LA ›
- S'More 'Anti-Superficial' Dating App Launches in Los Angeles - dot.LA ›
- S'More Wants to Make Online Dating 'Something More' - dot.LA ›
- S'More Wants to Make Online Dating 'Something More' - dot.LA ›
- S'More Wants to Make Online Dating 'Something More' - dot.LA ›
- Matter Moves Into Audio to Create a Better Dating Experience - dot.LA ›
- LA's Dating App Startups Had Big Plans Post-Lockdown — But a Return to Virtual Dating Will Do Just Fine - dot.LA ›
- Tinder Is Bringing Back the Blind Date - dot.LA ›
Tami Abdollah was dot.LA's senior technology reporter. She was previously a national security and cybersecurity reporter for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C. She's been a reporter for the AP in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times and for L.A.'s NPR affiliate KPCC. Abdollah spent nearly a year in Iraq as a U.S. government contractor. A native Angeleno, she's traveled the world on $5 a day, taught trad climbing safety classes and is an avid mountaineer. Follow her on Twitter.
