Google search interest in dating has reached a 5-year high in the U.S., especially in Washington, D.C.
Searches for “top dating apps 2021” skyrocketed over the past month, jumping 3,400%, according to Google.
According to the mobile market database App Annie, Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are all currently in the top 50 grossing apps on iPhones.
These trends are not limited to younger demographics, with the search term “dating apps for older people” also increasing by 3,500% last month, according to Google.
The search for “virtual first date ideas” increased by 450% last week, yielding results such as virtual cooking dates, museum tours and lots of fun games to play online with a potential partner.
The dating app Bumble reported a surge in user comfort with in-person dates in states and cities where vaccination rates are higher.
Observers also noted that the word often appeared in public Tinder bios once it was known that a vaccine would be available, and dating apps now offer ways to share a person’s vaccination status.
For more information, read the original story in NPR.