If you’re on dating apps and wondering what to do on a first date to make it more likely to get a second, turns out, it’s talking about therapy.
Yep, new research by dating app Hinge found that after the last two years, prioritising your mental health is more important than ever, and most daters aren’t accepting anyone who isn’t doing it. The study found that not only are Australian Hinge singles more likely to get a second date if you mention going to therapy on a first date, but also a whopping 89% of them would rather date someone who goes to therapy.
Interestingly, though, despite the sheer number of singles who would appreciate someone mentioning they went to therapy on a first date as well as the 97% of Hinge users globally that say they’d prefer to date someone who actively takes care of their mental health, the research found that a mere 6% of Hinge users said they felt comfortable bringing up therapy when first meeting someone.
“Guess what? That means you can stand out and impress your date by bringing this topic up,” says Logan Ury, Director of Relationship Science at Hinge.
“No need to share a ten-page notes doc from your last session, but you can casually drop that you’re making this investment. This might sound like ‘I’m really prioritising my mental health right now. I’m lucky enough to have found a great therapist and I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress.’”
As for what Australian Hinge users thought about social media, 88% said they’re actively trying to spend less time on social media – and want their dates to limit usage too.
74% said it’s a red flag when someone is too into Instagram, with the top reason for concern being that it might be a sign the person is too self-absorbed or is insecure. 81% said they’d be wary if someone is too into Snapchat. These singles said Snapchat might create more opportunities for flirting and cheating, and that it also might be a chance the person is too self-absorbed.
“[Australian singles] are turned off by potential partners who spend too much time on Instagram or Snapchat,” says Ury. “Keep yourself grounded by limiting your social media use to a specific amount of time per day. And put all that newfound free time into something more meaningful — like reading a great book, developing a new hobby, or calling your mum.”
Bottom line? If you’re an app user, you just might have a better chance at finding love if you wean yourself off social media and if you instead focus on your mental health — and then make sure your dates know about it.
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