More than Eight out of Ten Dating App Users Want Platforms to Verify Age, Recency of Photos and Location
Rhea-AI Summary
TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) has released a new report revealing significant trust concerns in online dating platforms. The study shows that 85% of women and 87% of men want dating platforms to verify user information including age, photo recency, and location.
Only half of users found profiles accurately reflected people they met, with picture inaccuracy being the top complaint. Women were twice as likely to report age misrepresentation, while men reported more bait-and-switch incidents. Over 75% of users across demographics are willing to undergo background checks.
The report also highlighted concerning fraud statistics: 28% of users experienced catfishing, while 21% fell victim to romance scammers requesting money or personal information. About 25% of users would pay for their own background check, and 40% would pay for both themselves and potential matches. Only 15-18% believe background checks should be included in membership fees.
Positive
- Potential new revenue stream from background check services
- 40% of users willing to pay for background checks
- High market demand (85%+ users) for verification services
Negative
- 28% of users experienced catfishing
- 21% of users fell victim to romance scams
- Only 50% of profiles accurately reflect users
News Market Reaction 1 Alert
On the day this news was published, TRU declined 3.06%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Only half of users agree that profiles accurately reflected the people they met in person
CHICAGO, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While consumers rely on dating apps to find romantic partners, the vast majority would like to feel more confident that other users are representing themselves accurately. A new report from TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) found that
Consumers cited inconsistencies with how people portray themselves on their profiles compared to how they appear in person. The most common complaint among men and women was that pictures were inaccurate or misleading. Women were twice as likely as men to say people lied about their age, while men were more likely to report being the victim of a bait and switch scheme.
For these reasons, more than three quarters of users are willing to undergo background checks—a finding consistent across gender, age and geographic segments. These findings and more are available in TransUnion’s latest report, The Paradox of Online Dating: Convenience vs. Connection.
“Consumers place a high value on trust when interacting online,” said Cecilia Seiden, VP of TransUnion’s Communities and Marketplaces business. “Dating platforms have an opportunity to provide that assurance to their users, while increasing user loyalty in the process.”
What personal information users want platforms to verify
| Age | Recency of Photos | Location | Employment | Income | ||||||
| Women | ||||||||||
| Men | ||||||||||
About a quarter of respondents said they would be willing to pay for their own background check, while nearly
Romance scams remain an issue
In addition to the more benign misrepresentations or exaggerations, the report found a prevalence of fraud in the online dating experience. Across all demographics, at least
More than a quarter (
“Dating makes people inherently vulnerable, more than any other online interaction or activity, because people want to form a genuine connection,” said Seiden. “Dating platforms have the ability to leverage robust identity data to verify that someone is who they say they are. Doing so would not only offer financial protection against scams but would make it easier for people to put themselves out there in good faith and make the connection they’re looking for.”
Dating platforms can increase confidence among users by incorporating identity verification tools, like TransUnion’s TruValidate™ line of solutions.
To read the full dating report, The Paradox of Online Dating: Convenience vs. Connection, click here.
About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)
TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world. http://www.transunion.com/business
| Contact | Dave Blumberg TransUnion | |
| david.blumberg@transunion.com | ||
| Telephone | 312-972-6646 |
FAQ
What percentage of dating app users want verification according to TransUnion's 2025 report?
How many dating app users have been victims of catfishing according to TransUnion?
What percentage of dating app users are willing to pay for background checks in 2025?
How prevalent are romance scams on dating apps according to TRU's research?
What percentage of dating app users are concerned about scams per TransUnion's findings?
