A YEAR (OR THREE) IN REVIEW

Somehow, it’s been nearly three years since COVID-19 brought the entire globe to a grinding halt. While employers have rolled out return-to-office plans and toilet paper is back in stock, our dating and sex lives are still adjusting to the new normal.

For one, there has been a huge increase in dating app use—OkCupid reported a 700% increase in usage, and Tinder broke its own record for the most swipe activity in one day at 3 billion swipes!

With a shift to online or app-based dating, Match.com’s Singles in America report says that 53% of singles on their site are open to a long-distance relationship, up from 35% last year. 

The virtual trend hasn’t just been for finding dates, either, video dates exploded during the pandemic, with Bumble reporting a 70% increase in video calls on their platform. 

More virtual encounters, lingering hesitation around vaccination status and risk, and the rising cost of dating (up 40% over the last 10 years!) has led to a decrease in the amount of sex people are having overall and an increase in people looking for a long-term relationship rather than casual hookups.

The sex people are having, though, is only getting better! Over one-third of singles say they’re more sexually empowered now than they were before the pandemic and 38% say that they’re more interested in exploring their body and sexuality.

Looking to do some exploration of your own?

Our products might be just what you’re looking for.