People on dating apps to look for long-term partners: Australian research

Australian researchers have found that a large number of singletons are going on dating apps to look for long term relationships and not for short-term hook-ups.

Researchers from the University of Sydney found that contrary to reports online dating apps, such as Tinder, OKCupid and Grindr, were simply facilitating people's search for long-term love instead of a "hook-up" culture of short-term relationships.

The research, published in the Journal of Sociology, looked at the online dating habits of 365 people, mostly aged below 30, and found more than half used the apps to find dates, while only a quarter of respondents used the apps for sexual encounters.

Furthermore, the study found almost three quarters of users were just as inclined to seek a monogamous relationship since taking their search for love online, with a further 14 percent saying they were more inclined to seek monogamy since using the technology.

Tinder was by far the most popular application with 84 percent of respondents having used it, followed by OKCupid at 30 percent.

Lead researcher Dr. Mitchell Hobbs from the University's Department of Media and Communications in a statement on Wednesday said his research showed the negative hype surrounding dating apps bringing about the end of romance was wrong.

"Most people are not using the technology merely for increased sexual promiscuity, but are in fact seeking to find a potential longer-term partner," he said.

"Dating apps are also making it easier for people to meet like-minded individuals. This is especially important for individuals who don't have the time, or the inclination, to meet people in sites of traditional matchmaking, such as bars and clubs."

The study also explored why people used the apps, with users saying they enjoyed the convenience of connecting with a large group of people at once and the efficiency of the technology, as people were less likely to waste others' time.

Others reported they enjoyed the sense of control they had over their dating lives, and the ability to get to know someone prior to meeting them.

However, the study also found the apps encouraged a small number to look outside their relationships.

"Of those survey respondents who indicated that they were in a relationship, 10 percent said that they had used the technology to engage in a sexual affair, with a subsequent question revealing that most felt that they would not have 'cheated' on their partners had the apps not made it so easy to do so," Hobbs said. Enditem