63% of Bengalureans are more attracted to someone who actively engages in societal issues

Bengaluru: Bumble, the women-first dating app, released its annual predictions trends for 2024. Bumble’s new studies reveal that dating in 2024 will see a shift in how singles are dating, who they’re dating and who they are themselves.

Looking ahead, 2024 is set to be the ‘year of self’ in dating and relationships with more people looking inwards at what they value and want. Heading into 2024, there is an air of optimism and clarity for the ‘year of self’ as Bumble’s research shows that more than half (59%) of Indian women surveyed are going into the new year with a clear view of what they want from their romantic lives.

Findings from Bumble’s new research in India show Bengalureans are focusing on personal prioritisation which is leading to rejecting the constant strive for perfection, and placing more value on their mental health, emotional vulnerability, self-acceptance, and shared priorities. GenZ, in particular, are vocal about values and are motivated to go after what they want when it comes to romance, are breaking away from traditional dating norms, and challenging outdated relationship timelines and relationship expectations.

‘Betterment Burnout’: Bengalureans are defying pressures to ‘self optimise’

Bumble’s research shows Bengalureans are feeling the pressure to constantly look for ways to better themselves. From biohacking and starting your day at 5am, to plugging into self-help podcasts, there has been a rise in people ‘self-optimising’ - striving to become a perfect version of themselves. This has led the majority (83%) of single Bengalureans surveyed constantly looking for ways to better themselves, with 60% feeling unworthy of a partner if they haven’t invested in themselves. Bumble’s dating trend ‘Betterment Burnout’ refers to how looking ahead to 2024, single Bengalureans are rebelling against the need for constant self-improvement with 83% of Bengalureans (and 74% of LGBTQ+ daters) surveyed, saying they are taking active steps to be happier with who they are here and now. 76% of Bengalureans (and 74% of LGBTQ+ daters) surveyed, now emphasise self-needs over constant self-improvement. This is more relevant to Millennials (82%) over GenZ (67%). In fact, 69% of Bengalureans surveyed will now only date people who will not try to change them.

When asked about what are the pressures Bengalureans face to self-improve in order to date, for 44% of Bengalureans it’s social expectations that makes them want to self-improve in order to date, followed by desire for self-growth (40%), parental expectations (35%), fear of rejection (32%), cultural norms (30%) and previous relationship experiences and peer pressure (both 24%).

‘Slow life’ over hustle culture

55% of Bengalureans surveyed say they want to choose the 'slow life' (acceptance for who you are, being happy here and now) more than hustle culture, while 47% of Bengalureans value inner fulfilment over external validation and 42% of Bengalureans will embrace authenticity over perfection looking ahead in 2024.

Singles in Bengaluru today are looking for shared priorities and expect their partners to not only care about social causes but to actively engage. Val-Core Dating refers to the rise of people valuing engagement on issues that matter to them. 63% of Bengalureans surveyed are more attracted to someone who actively engages in societal issues. This is also relevant for over half (59%) of LGBTQIA+ daters surveyed in Bengaluru. For 71% of Bengalureans surveyed, it's important that a potential partner not only cares, but actively engages in social causes and issues. For 62% of Bengalureans not caring about social issues or social causes (justice, freedom, equality, etc.) is a dealbreaker in a potential partner. In fact, for 70% of Bengalureans it is important that their potential partner is aware of current politics and votes. When it comes to dating, Bumble’s research shows that women are less open to someone with differing political views as for 62% of women surveyed in Bengaluru, it is a turn off if someone they are dating is not aware of current societal issues.

Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director, Bumble shares, “It’s encouraging to see daters in Bangalore are throwing away the rulebook and taking charge of their dating journeys. We know that cultural conversations around misogyny, women’s rights, and social issues, that are intertwined with our dating lives, left many exhausted this year. This has impacted the way people want to date - people are feeling more empowered in their sense of self and seeking out people who value what’s important to them, whether it’s social causes, lifestyle choices or even their favourite sports.

It’s exciting to see people are now increasingly looking inward, and want to show up as authentic versions of themselves. We predict that 2024 will bring in a year of the self, with single Indians feeling more empowered than ever to prioritise what they value and what they will not stand for, leading to a new clarity about what they want in their romantic lives.”