Swipe for love: How locals view the most popular dating apps in HK

During this season of love, Tinder emerges as the most widely discussed dating platform in Hong Kong, capturing the attention of 50% of the local population.

Women-centric dating app Bumble comes in second with 22% talking about it followed by Heymandi at 13%, Coffee Meets Bagel at 8%, and OkCupid at 7%, according to media intelligence firm CARMA which worked with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE to find out more about Hongkongers' online dating preferences particularly around Valentine's Day. The results were taken from sentiments between January 2023 to February 2024.

The majority of discussions surrounding dating apps in Hong Kong revolved around users sharing their interesting or bizarre dating experiences. Many individuals took to social media platforms to recount their encounters and interactions with potential matches. 

Tinder 

There are many reasons why HongKongers are so into Tinder, some of them might use it to look for casual flings or serious relationships. Interestingly, CARMA’s sentiment analysis of netizens tended to be quite positive, associating the app with words such as safe, marriage, services and perfect. 

Bumble

If you are looking for serious relationships, Bumble is considered to be one of the top contenders among netizens in Hong Kong.

According to CARMA, the prevailing keywords associated with the app are "stable", "serious", and "true love". These keywords indicate that netizens generally expressed positive sentiments towards Bumble, highlighting its reputation for fostering stable and serious connections, as well as facilitating the search for true love.

Heymandi

When it comes to Heymandi, netizens generally expressed neutral sentiments, associating the app with words such as "getting to know each other", "chat," and "dating." These keywords suggest that netizens perceive Heymandi as a platform for initiating conversations and exploring potential connections.

However, there are drawbacks and safety concerns associated with Heymandi, as netizens have used words such as "be careful" and "divorce" when discussing the app. 

Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel seems to be the place to be for more serious relationships. According to CARMA, the prevailing keywords around the app are, "strong" and "match" and “pleased”. 

The conversations surrounding Coffee Meets Bagel contribute to an overall narrative of the platform as one that not only facilitates successful matches but also provides an environment that supports the development of lasting and meaningful connections.

OKcupid 

Similar to Tinder and CMB, OkCupid also appeared in discussions on serious relationships. Users believed the direct and simple nature of the dating app sets itself apart from other competitors.  

However, the prevailing concern among netizens revolved around scams on the platform. Users shared experiences of encountering scams such as matching salesperson. Meanwhile, some netizens also had observations that some potential matches are engineers or photographers. 

The positives of online dating

On the positive side, the popularity of these dating apps in Hong Kong can be attributed to the busy lifestyles of professionals who struggle to find time for traditional dating methods.

Many users expressed that these apps provide a convenient and efficient way to connect with potential partners, especially when faced with limited opportunities to expand their social circles.

The negatives of online dating

Yet, many netizens shared their negative experiences, particularly instances where they encountered users who provided misleading or false information on their profiles. Some individuals were found to conceal their true relationship status, using dating apps as a means to cheat on their existing partners.

Additionally, CARMA came across reports of attempted scams and fraudulent activities facilitated through these apps. Netizens raised concerns about the potential risks and dangers associated with online dating, urging fellow users to exercise caution and practice safe online behaviour.

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