The dating application Coffee Meets Bagel revealed some inconsistencies in its inaugural Dating Realness Report, illustrating what romance might resemble in 2025.

Over 90% of individuals in the dating scene are looking for something serious, based on a poll of more than 1,000 U.S. professionals aged 21-35 who are either actively searching for a relationship or are open to one. Specifically, 61% desire a spouse, while 31% seek a long-term partner. However, 93% find dating to be difficult, and nearly half (45%) believe that committing to a relationship is more challenging than committing to a job.

Primary dating frustrations encompass endless swiping without genuine matches (54%), being ghosted or unmatched (47%), and challenges in initiating conversations (43%).

On the topic of AI, 80% of participants are at ease with AI aiding in dating tasks. Nonetheless, if they found out that AI was employed to craft a profile or message, about 65% would feel less inclined to engage, have a negative outlook, or be uncertain about how to feel. Gen Z is more at ease with AI than millennials but is less likely to interact with AI-generated profiles.

The survey also indicated that emotional connection and chemistry are vital for most daters (73%), even more so than physical attraction (63%). Shared values and beliefs (59%) were also significant, trailed by ambition/drive (57%) and shared interests (53%).

Notably, a greater number of millennials (76%) valued emotional connection more than Gen Z (68%), while a higher proportion of Gen Z emphasized ambition/drive compared to millennials (61% vs. 52%).

In periods of economic instability, financial security emerged as the highest life priority (54%), followed by health and wellness (49%), and then love and relationships, which tied with family (47% each).

Coffee Meets Bagel also investigated post-matching hurdles. Gen Z and millennials expressed similar worries: mixed signals (42% Gen Z, 44% millennial), sustaining conversations (40% Gen Z, 38% millennial), and experiencing ghosting (38% Gen Z, 40% millennial).