Climate change is the #1 issue to daters in 2022

Our Climate Change Advocate profile badge is back as OkCupid data reveals caring about the planet keeps getting hotter

In 2022, climate change is the #1 issue daters care about. It has even surpassed world peace. (Seriously. But more on that later.) So for Earth Month, and by popular demand, we’re bringing back our Climate Change Advocate profile badge and stack for singles around the world. And for every person who opts into the badge, we’re donating $1 (up to $20,000) to Earth Day Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on taking action for the planet. Last year, nearly 400,000 OkCupid users added the badge to their profile and this year we expect over half a million! So let’s get into the data on why so many singles are hot for Climate Change Advocates.

Daters are hot for the planet

Singles across the globe say the environment is the cause that’s most important to them. In fact, they’re about 30% more likely to choose “the environment” over “world peace” and 2x more likely to pick it over “eradicating all diseases from the earth” when asked “Which cause is most important to you?”

Daters have been hot for the planet for a while now, but their focus on it has been increasing with the temperatures. In the past five years, there has been a 368% increase in environmental- and climate change-related terms on users’ profiles, and over the past three years, there’s been a 36% increase in singles saying they’re concerned about climate change (81% today are).

Millennials are driving the trend

There’s no doubt millennials are particularly passionate about the planet. Not only are they (and their Gen Z counterparts) the most likely to cite the environment as their key cause, but millennial daters on OkCupid are the most likely to think about climate change on a daily basis. In response to the question “How often do you think about climate change?” less than one-third of millennials said “rarely or never.” They’re also the most likely to ditch plastic, with 74% saying they support a plastic bags and straws ban.

European singles are taking action

Climate change is the #1 issue for daters around the world, but singles in some countries take it even more seriously than others. Take the plastics ban, for example. For the most part, daters where a plastics ban is already in place are the most likely to support one. In 2020, Germany banned plastic straws and most German daters (85%) are supportive of the ban. The UK introduced a similar ban the same year, and UK daters are next in line for most supportive at 83%. French daters, though, are the least likely to support the ban, despite there already being one in place in France since 2021; nonetheless, the majority of French daters (57%) support it.

Regardless of their views towards a ban, French daters are the most concerned about climate change. American, Israeli, and Indonesian daters are tied for the least — but again, the majority of daters in all three countries are concerned (77%).

French daters also take the lead as those who are the most likely to make a conscious effort to shrink their carbon footprint. Indonesian singles are the least.

Loving the planet gets you more love

While millennial and European singles are leading the charge, there’s no doubt that — no matter where you live or how old you are — loving the planet gets you more love. Ninety percent of daters say it’s important their match cares about the planet, and OkCupid users who are concerned about climate change get 37% more likes and 11% more matches than those who are not.

So if you’re a Climate Change Advocate and want your matches to know, add the OkCupid Climate Change Advocate badge to your profile! Simply answer “yes” to the question “Do you want to support the environment by adding a Climate Change Advocate badge to your profile?” Once you have the badge, you will also appear in the Climate Change stack where you can find other singles with the badge. Both will be available until the end of Earth Month.

Download OkCupid & find someone great today!

Climate change is the #1 issue to daters in 2022 was originally published in OkCupid Dating Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

medium.com/m/global-identity?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftheblog.okcupid.com%2Fclimate-change-is-the-1-issue-to-daters-in-2022-2a54fadc2a10

Dating a Single Parent? Here’s How to Set Yourself Up For Success

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Dating a Single Parent? Here’s How to Set Yourself Up For Success

Giving Advice to Your Single Crew: The How, Who, What, and When

The post Giving Advice to Your Single Crew: The How, Who, What, and When appeared first on The Latest Catch.

Giving Advice to Your Single Crew: The How, Who, What, and When

OkCupid Data Shows That Women Are Owning Their Dating Lives More Than Ever

In honor of International Women’s Day, we explored how women around the world are being more assertive in dating and beyond

Over the past two years, we’ve seen daters become increasingly assertive. Now more than ever, daters are being clear about what they want and what’s truly important to them. Singles aren’t waiting for a message anymore — they’re making the first move when they see a match they want to meet — and the focus is shifting from “who can support me financially” to “who will support my values?” While we’ve seen this change happen among daters of all genders and orientations around the world, women are leading the charge.

Women are taking control of their dating lives

Throughout the pandemic, women have been increasingly more likely to send likes and first messages — and this has remained true in 2022. Women sent 10% more likes this January than they did in December, and they’ve proven that taking the initiative pays off: Contact exchanges for women in January 2022 were at their highest in over a year (increasing 13% since December).

Women have expressed feeling more confident in finding matches and making the first move because they’re being more open and upfront about what they want. In the past five years, there’s been a 600% increase in women’s profiles stating “looking for a feminist” or “feminists only” and a 5% increase in women responding “no” to the OkCupid matching question “Would you date someone who isn’t a feminist?”

Women are not relying on a match to support them (financially)

While women around the world are increasingly likely to be looking for a match to support their values, female daters have become increasingly less likely to expect (or want) a match to support them financially. In fact, only 10% of women on OkCupid say that money is very important when it comes to a match. Here’s how it stacks up for women by country:

Looking at the two extremes, women in Indonesia are 9x more likely than women in Germany to say that a match’s money is extremely important; but even so, it’s just over one-third of Indonesian women who feel that way.

Instead, women are focused on fighting to close the gender wage gap, with 84% of female daters on OkCupid saying more needs to be done to do so (70% of men agree). See how it breaks down by country:

Women are also keeping track of their own finances so they can depend solely on themselves. In fact, very few women on OkCupid say they do not keep track of their own finances; unlike with the responses to other OkCupid matching questions on money, Indonesian women take the lead here, with only 5% saying they do not keep their budget.

Yet despite female daters’ desire to be financially independent, what’s most important to them — across the globe — is being independent full-stop. Sixty-five percent of women on OkCupid who responded to the matching question “Would you rather have more money or more freedom?” said “freedom” (slightly ahead of 64% of men).

Women are more focused than ever on what’s truly important to them in a match

So what does freedom mean? Well, it’s the right to choose what you want — and that comes to who you date, too. After all, over the past two years there’s been a 55% increase in women saying a relationship is more important to them than advancing their career. As a result, women are prioritizing what’s really important to them in a match and what they’re really looking for beyond the surface.

In the past five years there’s been a 5% increase in women responding “extremely honest” to the matching question “Would you rather date someone extremely hot or extremely honest?” For men, on the other hand, there’s been a 3% decrease. Single women are also focused on finding someone they connect with emotionally, with 88% today saying it’s important to establish an emotional connection before a physical one (compared to 78% of men). And in just this past month, there’s been a 5% increase in women seeking a relationship to last for the rest of their lives.

So on this International Women’s Day (and every day!), we at OkCupid are celebrating the women who are taking their dating lives into their own hands. No matter what they’re looking for, women are being more direct, open, and assertive about what they want and how they’re going to get it — and we think that’s pretty amazing.

Download OkCupid & find someone great today!

OkCupid Data Shows That Women Are Owning Their Dating Lives More Than Ever was originally published in OkCupid Dating Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

medium.com/m/global-identity?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftheblog.okcupid.com%2Fokcupid-data-shows-that-women-are-owning-their-dating-lives-more-than-ever-adce4690a203

It’s Okay to Make Friends on Dating Apps. Here’s Why

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It’s Okay to Make Friends on Dating Apps. Here’s Why

Join OkCupid in Supporting Small, Black-Owned Businesses

We picked 19 of our favorite Black-owned businesses in 7 love-themed categories

In honor of Black History Month, we’ve created a list of 19 amazing, Black-owned businesses that power love and connection through wares such as chocolates, candles, and more. At OkCupid, we are committed to the future of the Black community — both in dating and beyond — so it is important to us to highlight Black-owned businesses we love. Our rockstar employees helped craft this list of small businesses across the country, and OkCupid is donating $1,000 to each one.

One of the best parts of dating is having a reason to explore. Meeting up with a special someone (or this week’s fling, no judgment here) is the perfect excuse to step out of your comfort zone with a fresh look, a different cocktail spot, or a new signature scent. So pop on your getting ready playlist (we know you have one) and join us in supporting these amazing Black-owned businesses!

For Setting the Mood

1. Bright Black Candles

These quality crafted candles pay tribute to Black greatness with scents that capture its radiance.

2. Lindsey Created

The names of these freelance-inspired candles may even inspire you on date night. Try out Good Night, for example, that’ll get you ready for a cozy night in.

For Your Cravings

3. Midunu Chocolates

Up your hosting game with one of their cool aprons or snag some of their sweet drinking chocolate.

4. Cookie Society

Show off how well you were paying attention in that message thread by picking a flavor combination that speaks to their palette.

5. Mikey Likes It Ice Cream

Order fun options like “Mint Condition,” and “Foxy Brown” to cool down your hot date-night in.

For Late Nights & Early Mornings

6. Theopolis Vineyards

Nothing says “I think this could be a thing,” like ordering some wine and doing an at-home wine tasting.

7. Top 3! Games

This musical themed game is the perfect way to turn a game night for two into the 90s R&B moment you so richly deserve.

8. Teas with Meaning

These aromatic blends smell as heavenly as they taste. Use one to revamp your energy before that post-work hang or to calm your nerves before that third-date hookup.

For Nature Lovers

9. LYS Beauty

Affirm yourself to be the kissable catch we know you are with their natural Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil. As an added bonus you can get it via Sephora’s same day delivery app without interrupting your skin care routine.

10. Grounded Plants

If there’s anything more sexy than taking the plunge into plant parenthood, we haven’t found it yet.

11. Beautiful Weirdos

Infuse some good vibes into your first date with these carefully copper-wrapped crystals.

For Date Night Looks

12. Stuzo

Their adorably bold overalls prove what we have always known — style has no gender.

13. The Jules Shop

This site has everything from the perfect lounge set for that midday meetup to that sexy date night dress you’ve been searching for.

14. Love Iguehi

Their cute clutches and dazzling dusters are the perfect way to elevate your look in a dash.

For Your Person

15. Byndr Leather Goods

A quality leather trinket is a great way to gift someone you just started seeing. It says “I was thinking about you…but not in a creepy way.”

16. Aya Paper Co

You won’t regret sending one of their astrology-themed cards to your perfect match.

For Looking Your Best

17. Soultanicals

Nothing puts your confidence on ten like knowing your curls are flourishing.

18. Pooka Pure & Simple

Their oil-based perfumes will keep you smelling like a snack for the hrs & hrs when you finally find the person who makes you stop hating that song.

19. Jaibutters

Everyone deserves to have their chance at love and affection…and smooth, buttery skin.

Download OkCupid & find someone great today!

Join OkCupid in Supporting Small, Black-Owned Businesses was originally published in OkCupid Dating Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

medium.com/m/global-identity?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftheblog.okcupid.com%2Fjoin-okcupid-in-supporting-small-black-owned-businesses-cf388380b68d

If You’re Not Going on Group Dates, It’s Time to Start

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If You’re Not Going on Group Dates, It’s Time to Start