Dating app reports 72% of single Israelis now seek serious relationships

A large majority of single Israelis have indicated they are looking for a long-term relationship by registering on the dating app OKCupid, a shift ostensibly due to the war in Gaza.

Instead of looking for casual hookups through apps like Tinder, many Israelis are now searching for a more meaningful connection based on shared interests and personalities, something OKCupid specializes in.

"On Tinder, everything works only according to pictures and outer appearances," Marcus Lofthouse, chief product manager at OKCupid told Ynet News, comparing the two dating apps.

Statistics from OKCupid have shown an increase in those looking for a serious relationship over the course of the war, with 76% of women and 70% of men (72% overall) now showing interest in a committed relationship, The Jerusalem Post reported.

"The effects of the long war are felt in the singles market," said Hadi Axelrod, lecturer in the master’s program of family studies at the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo who also works as a couples and family counselor. “The pool of available singles has significantly decreased, with many reservists aged 20-40 unavailable for dates.”

The Jerusalem Post article suggested that the changes indicated a felt need to develop personal connections during difficult times. Practical considerations have also driven the shift, as social outings are restricted by the need to stay close to a bomb shelter in case of a siren.

“Meeting places have changed. Fear of sirens and attacks has pushed dates from bars and cafes to homes and video chats, like during COVID-19. Conversations have become deeper and more personal, but traumas and emotional distress make it difficult to form meaningful connections,” Axelrod explained.

There has been an abundance of weddings since the outbreak of the war, a phenomenon that started shortly after Oct. 7, 2023.

Only 10 days after the war began, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett shared on social media a photo of military reservists Tamar and Adir, getting married in their uniforms.

“Lately I find myself more and more urging young couples, who have gone out for a long time, to get married and have kids. I think I have already set up 4-5 weddings for injured people, or bereaved family members. Our victory against our enemies will not just be through the hell we will unleash on them in the battlefield, but also by starting new lives of the Jewish people here in the Land of Israel. With optimism, with building a new generation, with faith, and with growth from the horrible pain,” Bennett wrote.