Men need to lower their standards on dating apps, new study shows

[zhiwei]

Men need to lower their standards on dating apps, new study shows​

By
Andrew Court
Published July 26, 2025, 1:16 p.m. ET

nypost.com

There’s long been a theory that, on dating apps, 80% of women are pursuing the top 20% of men — but new research reveals it’s actually fellas who are aiming too high when swiping for love.

International researchers analyzed the behaviors of almost 3,000 heterosexual users of a Czech dating app, with their findings published earlier this week in the PLOS One journal.

“Men tended to express interest in women who were more desirable than themselves, while women typically pursued men of more similar desirability,” the team uncovered.

“Men tended to express interest in women who were more desirable than themselves, while women typically pursued men of more similar desirability,” the team uncovered. Kaspars Grinvalds – stock.adobe.com

To classify how desirable each user was, researchers counted the number of swipes they received from other people on the app.

There were more male users, meaning that female users “generally ranked more highly in this hierarchy.”

Despite being spoilt for choice, the research revealed that women sometimes “chose slightly less desirable partners on average.”

However, the study showed that successful matches tended “to happen between people with similar levels of desirability.”

Thus, to avoid feeling frustrated and rejected when using dating apps, the research suggests that men should be realistic about their own desirability and not attempt to date out of their league.

Despite being spoilt for choice, the research revealed that women sometimes “chose slightly less desirable partners on average.” Studio Romantic – stock.adobe.com

“Our research on a Czech online dating app shows that while men often aim high when choosing whom to contact, successful matches tend to happen between people with similar levels of desirability. This pattern is largely the result of rejection, rather than an initial preference for similarity.”

“The successful matching outcomes tend to align more closely with women’s preferences than with men’s. This likely reflects women’s stronger position in the online dating market, as men outnumber women and are often expected to make the first move.”

 

[True Believer]

There are extremely few attractive women in S'pore so men need to moderate their expectations. The few "pretty" ladies look far less attractive when they remove their layers of make-up and filters when interacting online.

 

[True Believer]

Blackpink member Lisa Manoban with and without make-up

 

[syed putra]

Just go to dance club and make a offer. No need dating app. After drunk all also can.

 

[Truthspeak]

Just go to dance club and make a offer. No need dating app. After drunk all also can.

Those were app for the delusional sheeple who were vaxtards in general
In reality, many vaxtards don’t even get to live to longevity these days and can die easily. Still having the same expectation before the Covid-19?

They just need to lower their expectations

 

[bobby]

Most people choose other people but they donch think that other people donch choose them too…

 

[karizma]

It got me thinking. A lot of men seem to expect too much, often looking for "the perfect match." But sometimes, people just want something simple, like when someone says they wants to fuck tonight Maybe it's time to be more realistic and open.

 

[Chase]

the ideal ones on dating sites and apps are scammers.

 

[Vlad Tepes]

If you go onto Tinder and other dating apps now. 99% of them are asking men to follow their insta. Don't waste yr time and money on it. I rather you volunteer to do charity work.

 

[True Believer]

the ideal ones on dating sites and apps are scammers.

Makeup is able to transform a woman's entire appearance

 

[True Believer]

Men may transform their entire appearance through plastic surgery

 

[Norty]

I think it depends a lot on which app you’re on. Tinder and Bumble feel super competitive, but on platforms like Ourtime, the vibe is completely different. People are actually looking for genuine connections there. Maybe it’s less about lowering standards and more about choosing the right space to meet people.

 

[True Believer]

I think it depends a lot on which app you’re on. Tinder and Bumble feel super competitive, but on platforms like Ourtime, the vibe is completely different. People are actually looking for genuine connections there. Maybe it’s less about lowering standards and more about choosing the right space to meet people.

Several of my younger male colleagues remarked that females they met on dating apps treat their first meeting like an interview where the women try to establish the men's profession, salary range, ownership of a condo and car etc. Why do many or even most local women look to men as their "meal ticket" for life.

 

[True Believer]

Several of my male colleagues also have unrealistic expectations for a GF. They want a woman who is attractive, slim, tall, has sexy legs, not materialistic, willing to work to share the household expenses and will be totally devoted to him. The irony is that almost all these guys are nothing to look at and do not earn much and have no home or car ownership.