Online dating now represents the most common way to meet potential spouses, according to a plethora of new studies. The rise of apps like Bumble and Tinder raises new implications for marriage and, ultimately, divorce. How does online dating affect divorce – specifically, the financial aspects of a failed marriage? These are questions that researchers are beginning to explore in new studies.
Divorce is More Likely for Spouses Who Met Online
Data shows that if you meet your spouse online, you are more likely to get divorced within a few years. A U.K.-based study found that divorce rates for spouses who meet online are a whopping six times higher compared to those who meet through family or friends. These online marriages are 12% more likely to fail within three years – and 17% more likely to fail within 10 years.
According to this study, the “safest” way to meet someone is through friends or family. Those who meet through work also experience a higher chance of staying together past the 10-year mark. That being said, spouses who make it past a decade tend to stay together – regardless of how they meet. In addition, dating apps are not the only negative predictor of marriage success – and meeting your future spouse in a bar or club comes with a 45% higher likelihood of divorce.
Fewer Women on Dating Sites Actually Want Marriage
With all that being said, it might be difficult to find someone who actually wants marriage on a dating site. A 2023 report from Yahoo states that only 20% of all women on Bumble want to get married. While it is easy to dismiss this as “hookup culture,” most of these women still want long-term relationships.
This is in line with other studies throughout the United States, which suggest marriage is becoming less popular across the nation. Many couples today are committed to their long-term relationships, but they have no plans to officially “tie the knot.” To many of these adults, the concept of marriage seems antiquated and unnecessary. Fewer women are getting married, and fewer see the need to automatically “escalate” a relationship toward marriage within a specific timeframe.
Men are Becoming Completely Dependent on Dating Apps
Dating apps are causing serious societal issues, even as men become irrevocably dependent on them. Dating apps do not highlight a man’s attractiveness beyond his physical attributes – casting aside things like work ethic or critical thinking skills. As a result, women are choosing to date a small percentage of men based solely on their appearance – setting the stage for unsuccessful marriages built on surface-level foundations. At the same time, men are losing the ability to approach women in public (a trait that Gen Z calls “rizz”).
What Does This Mean for Divorces in the Future?
While online dating can slightly increase the chances of divorce, the truth is that it makes marriage less common across the board. Fewer women even want to get married in the first place, and online dating makes it challenging to find a suitable husband. Young divorce lawyers today may face a precarious future where marriage is rare. As a result, they may need to focus on other family law practice areas within the next few decades – things like cyberstalking restraining orders and child custody.
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