New Study: Ditch those Dating Apps, 82% of Americans Meet IRL

Valentine’s Day is a holiday everyone either loves or loves to hate, but there’s one thing most Americans agree on: the day is best spent going out and enjoying an experience.

Experiences > Things

In a survey of 2,005 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Eventbrite, over two-thirds said they would prefer to receive an experience gift over a material gift for Valentine’s Day. In fact, 71% agree that attending a live experience with their significant other would make them feel more connected to them. The majority (61%) of Americans also say they would prefer their significant other make the plans for Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to take some initiative. Skip buying the box of chocolates and try making them; instead of watching Netflix, laugh together at a comedy show; or burn off the calories from dinner at a tango workshop.

Ditch the Apps

If you’re single and ready to mingle, try turning off Tinder and “swipe right” on meeting people offline. According to our survey, 82% of Americans have met people they are or were interested in IRL, while less than a quarter (24%) have met them online or on a dating app. Want to experience what dating was like in the pre-Tinder days? Speed dating is way more fun than you’d expect, and it’s growing in popularity. We’ve seen 80% more speed dating events on Eventbrite last year compared to the year before, and the trend isn’t slowing down with 1,200 speed dating events already planned for 2019.

Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Couples

While the day is traditionally known for lovers, many Americans are taking the opportunity to deepen their relationships with friends as well. 70% of millennial women (ages 18-34) agree that Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate friends, even if they’re not romantic, and 58% millennial men say the same. Looks like Galentine’s Day isn’t just for girlfriends.

The holiday is also being reclaimed as a day for self-care: More than a quarter of Americans plan to treat  themselves to wellness activities, including some spa time, yoga, and meditation.

Whether you want to use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate yourself or other loved ones,  do it right by sharing new experiences and creating memories. If you don’t know where to start, check out fun things to do in your city.

*SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Eventbrite from January 29 – 31, 2019 among 2,005 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Irene Lee at irenel@eventbrite.com.