Agrégateur de flux

Dating apps generated over $6 billion in 2024, with North America accounting for 50% of global revenue, Europe 23%, and adoption climbing across Asia-Pacific and Africa. Credit: Shutterstock

By Joseph Chamie
PORTLAND, USA, Nov 6 2025 (IPS)

Dating websites, mobile apps, social networks, and cell phones offer numerous opportunities for dating, developing relationships, having encounters, and finding partners with more and more people relying on these platforms. However, modern technologies with their scale, speed and easy have also brought about dating challenges for both men and women.

These challenges include unrealistic expectations, emotional disconnection, feelings of inadequacy, superficiality, choice paralysis, decision fatigue, misrepresentation, privacy concerns, harassment, stalking, threats, scams, situationships, catfishing, orbiting, benching, pocketing, love bombing, cushioning, ghosting, submarining, and breadcrumbing.

Dating has evolved significantly from face-to-face social encounters, often within a family-centric process, to today’s technologically driven individualistic experiences. In much of the past and continuing in some traditional societies, courtship was typically a structured process focused on finding a suitable marriage partner for the purpose of family building.

The estimated total number of people worldwide using dating apps, which has become the most common way couples meet, is approximately 400 million, or about 5% of the world’s population. On an average day, over 25 million people are actively using dating apps, which includes casual browsing and engaging in online conversations

In contrast, many people now view dating as a means to discover themselves and experience personal growth, rather than solely as a path to marriage and starting a family. These individuals prioritize personal development, career advancement, and diverse experiences before thinking about settling down. With casual dating becoming more common and accepted, there is also a greater focus on authenticity and forming connections with others, including potential partners.

Dating apps, websites, and mobile phones, combined with the growing use of generative artificial intelligence, chatbots, and virtual reality, have contributed to the rapid rise of online dating. It has become an increasingly mainstream and popular way to meet someone and potentially find a significant other. These modern technologies offer unprecedented access to a diverse array of people, breaking down geographical and social barriers.

These developments have made dating and courtship both easier and more complicated. In particular, modern technologies are contributing to new dating norms, behaviors, expectations, benefits and frustrations.

Among the growing numbers of dating app users are those desiring a romantic relationship and others seeking a long-term companion or marital partner. In contrast, many individuals simply want to date casually or “hook up” with someone, meaning they have informal encounters without emotional ties but leading to sexual involvement.

Many men and women often struggle to form genuine connections with others when their interactions are confined to online messaging. The abundance and convenience of available dating options can also make it difficult to commit to one individual, leading to a cycle of constantly searching for the next best person to date.

Social media platforms encourage users to showcase or highlight the best parts of their lives. These enhanced presentations often create unrealistic expectations and disappointments in dating.

The estimated total number of people worldwide using dating apps, which has become the most common way couples meet, is approximately 400 million, or about 5% of the world’s population. On an average day, over 25 million people are actively using dating apps, which includes casual browsing and engaging in online conversations

The dating app market reportedly made more than $6 billion in revenue in 2024. North America remains the largest dating app market, contributing 50% of global revenue in 2024, followed by Europe at 23%, with adoption levels climbing in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. Financial projections for the dating app market show that its global revenue could reach nearly $9 billion by 2030.

Globally, the total number of dating app platforms is estimated to be in the thousands. The global market is diverse, with various dating apps attracting and catering to different interests ranging from serious long-term relationships to casual hookups.

Among the most popular dating apps downloaded are Tinder, Badoo, Bumble, and Momo. In 2024, Tinder was reported to be the most downloaded dating app, with more than 6.1 million user downloads during the month of June. Other popular dating apps include eHarmony, Hinge, Match, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish, each with its unique user base and focus (Table 1).

 

Source: Business of Apps and Statista.

 

The number of dating app users, their usage, and the social norms surrounding them vary considerably among countries due to cultural attitudes towards dating, relationships, and technology. Each country has its favorite or most popular dating app in terms of the number of downloads.

The numbers of men and women using dating apps also differ significantly across countries. In 2024, China had the largest number of dating app users, with nearly 83 million. The United States followed with approximately 61 million dating app users. India came in third place with about 27 million dating app users, followed by Brazil with 17 million dating app users (Figure 1).

 

Source: Statista Market Insights.

 

In 2024, the United States had the highest percentage of its population using dating apps, at around 18%. Following the US was France, with over 11% of its population using dating apps. South Korea came in third place among these selected countries, with nearly 11% of its population engaging in dating apps, followed by Germany at 9% (Figure 2).

 

Source: Statista Market Insights.

 

However, among single populations, the usage of dating apps is significantly higher. For instance, the proportions of single individuals using dating apps in North America, Europe and Asia are 45%, 30%, and 25%, respectively.

Guidelines, rules, and general behavior for dating through modern technologies vary based on gender, age, experience, and social norms. According to the most popular dating apps in 2024, approximately 62% of users are men.

The percentage of male users is notably higher in most countries and regions. For instance, in the United States and India, about 70% of dating app users are men, while in Europe, the percentage rises to 85%.

A disparity in what men and women seek while using dating apps complicates finding the right match. Because of this gender imbalance, men often express dissatisfaction with low match rates and lack of messages. In contrast, women frequently report feeling overwhelmed by too many choices, an abundance of messages, and disrespectful comments.

When it comes to motivation for using dating apps, men are more inclined towards casual encounters and easy communication, while women tend to prioritize safety and seek long-term relationships, aiming to avoid harassment.

Gender roles in dating have undergone significant changes. Shifting societal attitudes and the feminist movement have resulted in more egalitarian relationships. While these changes have led to more balanced relationships, they also require navigating new expectations and social dynamics.

In terms of the age of dating app users, the largest group, accounting for around 35%, consists of relatively young individuals, typically under the age of 25. These young users often have more time to explore various dating options before committing to a long-term relationship. Older users, aged 55 and above, represent a smaller but increasing percentage of users, typically around 10%.

Some dating apps estimate that approximately one third of relationships now begin through the use of a dating app. In the US, 10% of partnered adults met their spouse or partner on a dating site or app, with the proportion at 20% among those aged 18 to 29. In the UK, more than one-quarter of couples who married between 2017 and 2023 are said to have met online.

Moreover, there is a growing trend of partnered adults, particularly in Latin America and Western countries, choosing to cohabit without officially getting married.

Dating patterns today are significantly different from practices in the recent past, which relied mainly on face-to-face social encounters and family-centric processes. Dating in the modern era is a complex and multifaceted experience influenced by culture, technology, and norms.

Dating apps and websites accessed through cell phones have become a mainstream method for meeting new people. This new method has surpassed traditional avenues, such as meeting through friends or at social gatherings.

These modern technologies offer numerous opportunities for dating, developing relationships, finding partners, and even engaging in casual encounters. However, they have also presented challenges for both men and women, leading to the establishment of new dating norms, expectations, privacy concerns, benefits, and frustrations.

Joseph Chamie is a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division, and author of many publications on population issues.

La règlementation européenne anti-déforestation (EUDR) fait face à un nouvel obstacle cette semaine, alors que la pression politique croissante laisse de plus en plus entrevoir un report d’un an de l’application de la législation pour toutes les entreprises.

The post Les institutions de l’UE divisées sur les règles anti-déforestation, alors que l’idée d’un report gagne du terrain appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

EU-Haushaltskommissar Piotr Serafin bestätigte nicht, ob vor Ablauf der Frist des Parlaments am kommenden Mittwoch Änderungen vorgenommen werden.

Titan II ICBM - decommissioned nuclear missile - at the Titan Missile Museum, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Arizona. Credit: Stephen Cobb/Unsplash

By Naureen Hossain
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 6 2025 (IPS)

In recent days, nuclear state leaders have flouted the regulations and norms around nuclear non-proliferation and are flirting more openly with nuclear might in the name of projecting strength.

In the last week, the United States and the Russian Federation have made public shows of their nuclear messaging. On the 27th of October, President Vladimir Putin revealed a new nuclear-powered missile capable of staying airborne far longer than conventional missiles and even evading missile defense systems. Some experts have suggested that this is meant to reinforce Russia’s nuclear might, which Putin has leaned on since the start of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022.

More recently, on 29 October, President Donald Trump announced via social media that he wanted to resume nuclear testing for the first time in thirty years. In his post he wrote, “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.”

As he made this announcement just before his meeting with President Xi Jinping, some experts have considered that China’s expanding nuclear arsenal has prompted some calls in Washington D.C. to quickly modernize the U.S.’s own nuclear forces. Nuclear testing by major powers like China, Russia or the U.S. has not been conducted in decades. Yet analyses have warned that such an act would only further complicate relations between this triad.

All these developments should not come as a surprise. Even as countries have been aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons since 1945, this has not completely stopped them from expanding their forces. As of June 2025, there are over 12,400 nuclear warheads in the world in only a small percentage of countries. The U.S. and Russia account for 90 percent of those warheads, both possessing more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), nearly all nine of the nuclear states moved to modernize their existing nuclear arsenals and acquire new missiles in 2024.

Increasing geopolitical tensions have increased feelings of uncertainty and instability, which seems to have led countries to prioritize national security. The nuclear-armed states have made moves to expand the capabilities of their arsenals. SIPRI estimates that China now owns 600 nuclear warheads. Both the United Kingdom and France have ongoing programs to develop strategic weapons, including missiles and submarines. North Korea continues to expand its military nuclear program, accelerating the production of fissile material to make more nuclear warheads.

Concerns about nuclear testing have been reflected in headlines. Credit: IPS

The threat of nuclear weapons seemed to loom over major events this year, even as their efficacy as a deterrent was thrown into question. As India and Pakistan engaged in aerial battles and strategic strikes in May, the conflict demonstrated to the world how close two nuclear powers could come to war.

Meanwhile, in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the perceived threat from Russia, European nations, including France and the U.K., are moving to prioritize investments in defense, including deterrence. Germany, Denmark and Lithuania are among some of the countries that have also expressed interest in hosting nuclear weapons for the nuclear states.

William Potter, Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, expressed concern over the dangers posed by nuclear weapons due to miscalculations and misperceptions at a time when “there is a total lack of trust, respect, and empathy among the nuclear weapons possessors.”

“The more nuclear weapons, the greater the risk of their inadvertent use, but even more dangerous is the absence of a political climate in which serious arms control and disarmament measures can be pursued,” Potter told IPS.

The safeguards for nuclear arms control are also being challenged. The NEW-Start treaty, the last remaining arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia, is set to expire in February 2026, though both countries have considered voluntarily maintaining the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons for one year. Yet in this past week, that promise has been undercut by both parties.

At the same time, there are the continuous calls for nonproliferation and disarmament. Advocates from all over have raised awareness on the impacts of radiation on communities, on public safety and on the environment. The United Nations has platformed and rallied these advocates and has raised the alarm for disarmament since its official beginning on 24 October, 1945.

Amidst this, there is the fear of a new nuclear arms race. During the high-level meeting on the elimination of nuclear weapons in September this year, the UN’s Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray, who delivered remarks on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, said that the world was “sleepwalking” into this new arms race, now defined by new technologies and new domains for conflict such as cyberspace. Rattney warned that “the risks of escalation and miscalculation are multiplying.”

So if the nuclear states are modernizing their arsenals, how do modern technologies fit in? Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest frontier that countries are navigating and investing significant resources in to achieve progress. Given that, national and global regulations on the safe governance of AI are still nascent as countries still work to agree on universal agreements for the frameworks for the ethical applications of AI.

As it becomes increasingly sophisticated and more accessible, member states have been investing resources into incorporating AI in the military domain. Given that it does not fit neatly into pre-existing deterrence frameworks, this has also raised concerns over AI’s possible “destabilizing effects,” according to Wilfred Wan, Director of the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme.

It has prompted stakeholders to engage in serious negotiations on AI governance in the military domain, including guardrails to reduce the risk of escalation, Wan told IPS. At the multilateral level, he cites the example of the Blueprint for Action that came out of the second summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) in 2024. It is a non-binding agreement among 61 countries, including nuclear powers like the U.S., the U.K., France and Pakistan, that provides a framework for the responsibility that parties need to take in integrating AI, and recognizing gaps that policymakers must take into account. There is also the UN General Assembly Resolution 79/239 on “[AI] in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security.”

“This is certainly not a substitute for disarmament progress, but in the current strategic context, it can help rebuild some of the trust and confidence necessary for revitalizing those efforts,” Wan said.

Researchers from SIPRI have found there are no governance frameworks specifically for the nuclear-AI nexus compared to those for conventional military systems. “In the nuclear context, discussions have largely centered on retaining human control in nuclear decision-making. This is an essential principle but does not address other ways in which AI integration can affect the environment in which nuclear decisions are made, directly or indirectly,” Wan explained.

“Absent a framework that addresses these aspects, including through regulatory and technical measures, there remains the risk of accelerated integration of AI among nuclear-armed states in a manner that destabilizes the security environment, threatens strategic stability, and impacts the risk of nuclear use.”

When assessing the existing approaches to the governance of military AI, it shows common areas of concern, such as raising awareness through multi-stakeholder engagement and preserving the capacity for human intervention, along with applying safety and security measures to mitigate escalation risks.

At this time, nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation are critical and may even provide insight into negotiating the governance of AI in nuclear forces. The approaches to fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue that include policymakers, non-nuclear states, experts and the private sector could similarly apply to discussions around AI in nuclear forces. Though it should be noted that their limited knowledge of nuclear force structures may constrain meaningful contributions to the debate. Nevertheless, their participation must be facilitated if nuclear parties truly value human control in this factor.

Nuclear and non-nuclear states must recommit to the anti-nuclear agreements, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Potter stressed the importance of disarmament and nonproliferation education, particularly to empower future generations to “pursue creative ways to reduce pressing nuclear dangers.”

The UN can employ its influence in advancing disarmament efforts through dialogue and awareness efforts from the General Assembly and the Office of Disarmament Affairs (UN-ODA). The UN has also confirmed it will convene an independent scientific panel to assess the effects of nuclear warfare and an Expert Group on Nuclear-Free War Zones.

“Nuclear disarmament is more important today than ever before, but it is not simply a question of securing lower numbers of nuclear weapons,” Potter said. “At a time when the “nuclear taboo” has been eroded and discussions about the use of nuclear weapons have been normalized, it is vital that policymakers act boldly in a fashion commensurate with the threat.”

Note: This article is brought to you by IPS Noram in collaboration with INPS Japan and Soka Gakkai International in consultative status with ECOSOC.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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