Couples who meet online are less happy in love according to new study

People who meet their romantic partners online report lower levels of marital satisfaction and experience love less intensely than those who meet in person.

The finding has emerged from a new study by an international team of researchers led by Dr Marta Kowal from the University of Wrocław, with contributions from experts at the Australian National University (ANU) and Professor Craig Roberts, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Stirling.

Using nationally representative data from 50 countries collected by the Being Human Lab at the University of Wroclaw the researchers studied 6,646 individuals in relationships, examining how they found their partners and the impact this had on relationship satisfaction.

On average, 16 per cent of participants met their partners online, with this figure rising to 21 per cent among those who initiated their romantic relationships after 2010.

Revealing patterns

Professor Roberts said: “Our study addresses how the internet is changing the ways in which we find and meet partners, and what this could mean for relationship dynamics.

“Key strengths are the size of our study and the fact that the sample is drawn from such a wide range of countries across the world.

“However, we must remember that the findings are correlational: they don't imply that relationships which began online are doomed to being unsatisfying, just as partners who meet in real life are not guaranteed to have a long-lasting relationship.

“But they do reveal interesting patterns which may tell us something about the likelihood of relationships succeeding when they begin in the digital space.”

Professor Craig Roberts of the University of Stirling.

According to the researchers, several factors could explain the study’s findings, including the fact that couples who meet offline tend to be more homogamous – or have similar characteristics – than those who meet online.

“Participants who met their partners online reported lower relationship satisfaction and intensity of experienced love, including intimacy, passion and commitment, compared to those who met offline,” study co-author and ANU PhD student Adam Bode said.

“Similar social and educational backgrounds can positively influence relationship quality by fostering greater social support and acceptance, shared life experiences, and alignment in values and worldviews.

“The internet provides access to a seemingly limitless pool of potential partners, but while this abundance could help individuals find an ideal match, in practice, it often leads to choice overload.”

Interestingly, the study findings counter earlier research suggesting that individuals from rural areas are more likely to seek partners online due to geographic constraints.

“In our study, individuals from rural and urban areas were equally likely to meet their partners online,” Mr Bode explained.

“Contrary to earlier findings, we also found no evidence that younger people were more inclined to meet partners online. This suggests that navigating online spaces has become accessible across age groups.”

The researchers believe motivations for online dating have evolved with “swipe culture”, which describes the immediate nature of dating apps, and where prioritising physical attractiveness over a thorough selection process is more prevalent.

A shift in attitudes

Mr Bode added: “While early users sought lifelong partners, modern users increasingly pursue casual relationships. This shift toward short-term, less committed relationships may, in turn, contribute to lower relationship quality.

“The other complication that occurs online is the risk of ignoring potential red flags that are more apparent in real-life interactions.

“Given that online dating continues to grow worldwide, our findings underscore the need to enhance support for improving relationship quality among all couples, particularly those who met their partners online.”

The study was a collaboration between experts at the University of Wroclaw, ANU and the University of Stirling. The research has been published in the journal Telematics and Informatics.