What Will Online Dating Be Like In The Next 10 Years: Genetic Matching, Video Chat, Virtual Reality

Over the last nearly three decades, online dating has evolved a long way from a very niche idea to become truly mainstream. According to preliminary estimates by Statista, by 2028 the number of active users of dating sites and apps could reach 50 million people in the United States alone. And around the world their number is already measured in hundreds of millions.

Over the past few years, web dating has gone through a huge number of transformations. And while the first dating sites were very primitive, today they are truly multifunctional platforms that open up enormous opportunities for their users. And there are probably a whole lot of more interesting developments ahead!

How online dating has transformed

Let’s dig a little deeper into history to better understand how the online dating industry has evolved in the past. This will allow us to look into the future, as it were.

• 1960s. At that time, the internet was just emerging as an idea, so online dating was not yet a question. Nevertheless, it was in the sixties that the first computer dating service, Match, was developed at Harvard University, which later became the basis of the site of the same name.
• 1970s. The first online forums appear on various topics (or none at all), where people begin to meet and interact. Of course, communication at that time took place exclusively by text.
• 1990s. The internet increasingly penetrates people’s daily lives. The first modern dating site appears — Match.com. And soon its rivals will appear — eHarmony, OkCupid and others.
• 2000s. Dating sites become even more user-friendly and attract more and more interest from the audience. They add additional useful features — detailed participant profiles, match search systems, virtual gifts and the like. At the same time, the popularity of social networks is growing, which people also actively use for dating.
• 2010s. The beginning of the era of mobile dating apps, and the emergence of popular platforms — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, etc. Web dating becomes more convenient and accessible. At the same time, the number of online video chat services grows rapidly. The first of these appeared in 2009, but it was in the 2010s that they gained particular popularity.
• 2020s. Online dating services are beginning to actively use artificial intelligence to more accurately find matches, and some platforms are gradually introducing virtual and augmented reality technologies. Many users are starting to pay attention to niche dating services. Most people prefer to meet and communicate initially via video chat.

But what can dating services offer us in the foreseeable future? More on this below…

Will dating apps take into account your genetics?

Many algorithms for selecting a potential partner have already become very common — search by interests, personality tests, etc, which won’t surprise anyone. But what may be a surprise is that you can find a partner based on genetics. It sounds like science fiction, but several such projects are already being developed.

These include Pheramor, DNA Romance and Instant Chemistry. Perhaps the most famous at the moment is Pheramor. It works as follows:

1. You order a special kit for taking a swab from the inside of your cheek for $40 and send it to Pheramor.
2. Within 3-4 weeks, the company’s specialists analyze your DNA and genes.
3. After that, you get the result and in the Pheramor app you can see your compatibility with other users on a scale from 0 to 100.

In addition, the Pheramor app asks you to link social networks to your profile and analyzes your actions on them — posts, likes, comments, etc. Obviously, not everyone will be comfortable with this, but if you’re willing to experiment, it might be worth a try.

Video chat apps aren’t going anywhere

There’s an opinion that, against the backdrop of rapidly developing new technologies, the classic format of dating via online video chat will gradually disappear. We don’t think so. Firstly, it’s still a very convenient and practical way to meet new people. Secondly, in most cases it is free or at least very inexpensive. And thirdly, video chat apps have a huge audience that other dating platforms cannot boast. Popular video chat services include the following:

• LiveJasmin — an online video streaming service where you can host your own broadcasts or watch streams from other participants. The platform is intended for users over 18 years of age, as very explicit content is often broadcast here.
• Chathub — a video chat app where the emphasis is on one-on-one communication rather than live broadcasts. You can search for people who share your interests, chat about various topics and just have a good time.
• CooMeet — a great video call with girls for those who want to meet and communicate only with the opposite gender. This happens thanks to an error-free gender filter, as well as verification of female profiles. In addition, CooMeet has a built-in message translator, convenient mobile applications for iOS and Android, and a very high quality support service.

These, of course, are not all the popular online video chat apps you can try. There are many more.! We recommend you familiarize yourself with this format right now if you’ve previously missed it for some reason.

The world of virtual dating

Virtual reality (VR) could be the new frontier in online dating. VR apps can allow people to:

• Organize virtual dates: go to a virtual concert, take a walk in the park, or just sit in a cafe in VR.
• Feel each other’s presence: VR technology can create the feeling that you’re close to someone, even if they’re on the other side of the world.

Nowadays, virtual and augmented reality technologies are being developed very actively. However, they are still quite expensive. The recently released Apple Vision virtual/augmented reality headset retails for $3,499. For the average internet user this is too expensive, even taking into account the opportunities that are opened up. But there’s no doubt that as technology develops and becomes cheaper, virtual and augmented reality in dating will become commonplace and well-utilized quite soon.

Take advantage of evolving dating technology

We live in times of change. Internet applications have become an integral part of our lives and are penetrating more and more deeply at all levels. Today you won’t surprise anyone with the opportunity to meet new people on the internet, communicate via video chat and spend time together, despite being hundreds or even thousands of miles away from each other.

There are going to be many interesting developments ahead. You just need to follow new trends and take advantage of the opportunities that modern web dating offers. Try it, you’ll enjoy it!