Media release

From: The Australian National University

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

That’s according to 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).

Using nationally representative data from 50 countries around the world collected by the Being Human Lab at the University of Wroclaw, led by S. Craig Roberts, 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.

“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.

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.“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,” Mr Bode said.

“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 said.

“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.

“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,” Mr Bode said.

“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 Telematics and Informatics.