Dating.com
Dating.com is a company whose surveys highlight trends in digital intimacy, relevant for dating operators understanding user behavior.
Maintained by the High Intent newsroom. Last updated July 31, 2026. Led by founder and CEO Bill Alena, backed by a team of industry experts with over 100 years of online dating experience between them.
Dating.com: key facts
- Type
- Dating platform
- Website
- dating.com
What Dating.com does
Dating.com operates a network of online dating sites. The company has conducted and publicized surveys on user behavior within the online dating space. One survey from Dating.com indicated that 14% of adults now prefer sexting to physical sex. Another survey found that 30% of users would consider marrying someone they have not met in person, and 60% reported finding virtual intimacy fulfilling. These surveys suggest evolving user preferences, including a greater acceptance of virtual interaction and relationships that may not progress to in-person meetings. Such trends are important for dating operators to consider when developing platform features and engagement strategies. The company's business model involves subscriptions, which benefit from extended online engagement. Operators should evaluate the implications of these findings against their own user data and business objectives.
What operators should know
- 01Dating.com operates online dating sites.
- 02Their surveys indicate increased user preference for digital intimacy.
- 0314% of adults reportedly choose sexting over physical sex.
- 0430% of survey respondents would marry someone unmet online.
Questions operators ask about Dating.com
Dating.com's surveys suggest a growing trend towards digital intimacy, with users engaging in sexting and finding virtual connections fulfilling. These findings indicate a potential shift in user preferences that dating platforms may need to consider when designing services and user experiences.
Dating.com: timeline
- 14% Now Choose Sexting Over Sex. Dating Apps Built the On-Ramp.
A Dating.com survey found 14% of adults now choose sexting over physical sex, even when in-person options are available. This trend, exacerbated by app design that encourages digital-first interaction, presents a dilemma for dating platforms: whether to double down on facilitating real-world connections or embrace digital-only intimacy, potentially redefining their core business away from matchmaking.
- Dating.com Says 30% Would Marry Unmet. Build on Your Own Data.
A Dating.com survey claims 30% would marry someone unmet, and 60% find virtual intimacy fulfilling. This data, however, was commissioned by a subscription platform that profits from prolonged online engagement. Operators should not base product decisions on this survey alone but instead analyze their own time-to-meetup and retention data to identify genuine shifts in user behavior.
Our coverage of Dating.com
2 stories
14% Now Choose Sexting Over Sex. Dating Apps Built the On-Ramp.A Dating.com survey found 14% of adults now choose sexting over physical sex, even when in-person options are available. This trend, exacerbated by app design that encourages digital-first interaction, presents a dilemma for dating platforms: whether to double down on facilitating real-world connections or embrace digital-only intimacy, potentially redefining their core business away from matchmaking.
Dating.com Says 30% Would Marry Unmet. Build on Your Own Data.A Dating.com survey claims 30% would marry someone unmet, and 60% find virtual intimacy fulfilling. This data, however, was commissioned by a subscription platform that profits from prolonged online engagement. Operators should not base product decisions on this survey alone but instead analyze their own time-to-meetup and retention data to identify genuine shifts in user behavior.
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