In July 2024, Forbes Health said 79 percent of Generation Z and 80 percent of millennials experienced fatigue from using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. But messaging app Rakuten Viber recently reported that the most active online daters are 25 to 30 years old, which means that maybe they’re not entirely sick of online dating just yet.
Viber launched its dating feature earlier this year, in time for Valentine’s Day in February. While it is unknown how many have used the feature globally and in the Philippines, Viber reports that 92 percent of Filipino users start conversations within a minute of matching with others. The messaging app says this means Filipino users are “actively seeking potential partners” and not just creating dormant dating profiles that will leave you hanging.
With the dating feature, Viber says it also wants to tackle concerns regarding privacy and safety, particularly with regard to catfishing and love scams. But are these really what’s causing burnout?
According to the Forbes study, the fatigue primarily comes from being overwhelmed by the volume of people to swipe through. Forensic neuropsychologist Dr. Judy Ho told Forbes, “I think sometimes people can feel very expendable when they are on an app, and also there is an inherent competition that underlies everything.” The report further stated that other reasons for burnout include the inability to connect with others, being disappointed, feeling rejected, and having repetitive conversations with multiple matches.
However, safety still remains a pressing issue for Filipino daters, especially women, according to a 2023 survey conducted by market research firm Agile Data Solutions. The survey found that 34 percent of female respondents said they have experienced anxiety, stress, or fear while using dating apps. The same survey showed that 43 percent of women and 40 percent of men are afraid of encountering posers.
With that said, India-based software company Octal IT Solution said in a December 2024 report that the number of dating app users is expected to exceed 500 million this year as the market continues to grow in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Viber is also in a unique position in this landscape. While many dating apps fall into a delete-and-redownload cycle, users who grow tired of chatting up matches on Viber Dating may not delete the app, because they still use it to communicate with friends and family. And so, despite safety concerns and the burnout, it looks like online dating services in the Philippines aren’t going anywhere.
