Survey Reveals Women Prefer Online Friendships Over Men

A new survey conducted by the Indian dating app QuackQuack indicates that women are more inclined than men to forge friendships through online platforms. The study, which surveyed 8,500 users aged 18 to 40, found that approximately 2 in 7 Indians have met close friends via dating apps, maintaining these connections through regular texts and virtual interactions. This trend highlights a significant shift in how friendships are formed in the digital age.

The survey was conducted in the weeks leading up to Friendship Day and aimed to explore the behavioral patterns of users beyond romantic connections. Participants hailed from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities across India and represented a diverse range of professional backgrounds, including IT, healthcare, finance, and academia.

Ravi Mittal, the founder and CEO of QuackQuack, noted that about 21 percent of users reported finding entirely platonic friends online. He emphasized that the demands of modern life, including hectic work schedules and frequent relocations, often make traditional friendships more challenging. “Online friendships are low-effort, high-reward,” he stated.

Generational Trends in Online Friendships

The survey reveals that GenZ is leading the charge in this trend. Among respondents aged 18 to 25, 27 percent indicated they regularly text people they met online purely for friendship. Millennials also engage actively, with over 15 percent reporting that they have formed new friendships online that they maintain more frequently than with childhood friends.

Interestingly, the data shows that women are significantly more likely to seek out online friendships. The survey highlighted that 3 in 5 female users from Tier 2 and 3 cities reported forming app-based friendships that are entirely platonic. In contrast, only 1 in 5 male users expressed similar interest. The findings suggest that women, particularly in smaller cities, face limited opportunities for in-person socializing, making virtual friendships increasingly appealing.

The Skepticism of Older Users

While younger users embrace this trend, individuals over the age of 35 tend to be more cautious about forming online friendships. Only 7 percent of this demographic expressed interest in cultivating relationships through digital means. Many cited concerns regarding the authenticity of these connections and the lack of emotional closeness that typically accompanies in-person friendships.

A 38-year-old woman from Bengaluru, Savitri, shared her perspective: “I want to meet my friends, go to cafes, laugh together; basing my entire friendship on meme-sharing and texting won’t cut it for me.”

Despite these concerns, the survey found that 34 percent of respondents aged 25 to 35 appreciated the flexibility that platonic textationships provide. These friendships can be particularly beneficial for introverts who may struggle with socializing in traditional contexts. Mihir, a participant from Kanpur, explained, “Meeting friends through online dating apps is far better than socializing offline; there’s a lot of time constraint in the latter.”

Nevertheless, some users from Tier 1 cities expressed skepticism about the viability of platonic textationships, with 17 percent noting that such friendships can sometimes blur the lines into romantic connections. A doctor from Mumbai, Shikha, articulated her concerns: “There’s always this chance of getting digital burnout; I mean, without real-life interaction, how can I be emotionally invested in a person?”

The findings from this survey signal a notable transformation in the landscape of friendships, emphasizing the role of technology in shaping social connections. As dating apps continue to evolve, they may serve as increasingly significant platforms for both romantic and platonic relationships in the digital age.