Swiping right on tradition: Why India must ban casual dating apps now

The rapid proliferation of online casual dating applications such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge in India demands urgent scrutiny.

- DR FAUZIA KHAN

A couple using dating apps

These platforms, marketed as tools for fostering connections, have increasingly become conduits for transient, superficial relationships that yield little in terms of meaningful outcomes. The recent prohibition of real money gaming applications in 2025, enacted through the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, addressed the profound social, financial, and psychological harms caused by such platforms, including addiction and exploitation. A similar intervention is now essential to curb the detrimental impact of dating applications, which threaten to erode India's familial ethos and destabilise the social fabric of our nation.

The growth of these applications has been remarkable, particularly in tier-1 and tier-2 cities where digital access and urbanisation have fuelled their adoption. Market projections estimate that India's dating application sector will reach $1.42 billion by 2030, with over 100 million registered users, predominantly in metropolitan hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. User numbers have surged from 20 million in 2018 to 82.4 million in 2023, marking a 293% increase. Notably, this trend extends beyond metropolitan areas, with approximately 70% of users now from outside major cities, including tier-2 locales such as Pune and Ahmedabad. A survey by QuackQuack revealed that 45% of monthly revenues for some applications come from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where 54% of users reside. Whilst some argue these platforms empower individual choice, their primary function has shifted towards facilitating casual encounters, clashing with India's traditional values.