Couples Who Meet Online Report Lower Satisfaction, Study Finds
A new international study led by researchers from the University of Wrocław suggests that couples who met online report slightly lower relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and commitment compared to those who met offline. The survey covered more than 6,600 people across 50 countries, with 16 percent saying they met their partner online. Among relationships formed after 2010, that figure rises to 21 percent, and in Poland, nearly half of couples who began relationships after 2023 met online.
Dr. Marta Kowal from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Wrocław notes that while the differences are not dramatic, they mark a shift from studies a decade ago, which suggested the opposite trend. Researchers point to the changing nature of online dating: earlier platforms emphasized compatibility and long-term relationships, while modern apps focus on rapid selection, often based on photos.
This shift may reduce “homogamy,” or similarity between partners in education, socioeconomic status, or background – factors linked to stronger relationships. Couples meeting online also typically lack shared social circles, which can support relationship stability.
Experts caution that online relationships are not doomed, but further long-term research is needed to understand how digital platforms shape love and commitment.
(Newseria)
