Americans' views on whether dating platforms are a safe way to meet people vary by age, gender and whether they've used dating sites or apps % ofus adults who say dating sites and apps are a way to meet people
Americans have varying views about the safety of online dating. Roughly half of Americans overall (53%) say dating sites and apps are a very or somewhat safe way to meet people, while 46% believe they are not too or not at all safe.
Public perceptions about the safety of online dating vary substantially by personal experience. A majority of Americans who have ever used a dating site or app (71%) see online dating as a very or somewhat safe way to meet someone, compared with 47% of those who have never used these platforms.
Among the public as a whole, women are far more likely than men to say dating sites and apps are not a safe way to meet people (53% vs. 39%). Views on this question also vary substantially by age, educational attainment and race and ethnicity.
Americans' views on whether dating platforms are  | a safe way to meet people vary by age, gender and  | whether they've used dating sites or apps  | % ofus adults who say dating sites and apps are a way to meet people  | Somewhat Very  | Not at Not too  | all safe  | safe  | safe  | safe  | NET  | NET  | U.S adults  | 46%  | 10%  | 36%  | 50%  | 3%  | 53%  | Men  | 39  | 8 31  | 56  | 61  | Women  | 53  | 46  | 13  | 40  | 44  | Ages 18-29  | 38  | 11  | 27  | 58  | 62  | 30 49  | 39  | 60  | 8  | 31  | 55  | 50 64  | 51  | 11  | 40  | 45  | 48  | 65+  | 40  | 59  | 13  | 46  | 38  | White  | 42  | 8 34  | 53  | 57  | Black  | 58  | 2  | 42  | 15  | 43  | 40  | 2  | Hispanic  | 55  | 41  | 44  | 17  | 38  | Straight  | 47  | 11  | 36  | 49  | 52  | LGB  | 34  | 29  | 65  | 60  | HS or less  | 57  | 42  | 16  | 41  | 41  | Some college  | 45  | 37  | 51  | 54  | College+  | 34  | 29  | 59  | 65  | 5  | Have used a  | 29  | 24  | 64  | 71  | dating site/app  | 6  | Have never used a 52  | 11  | 40  | 45  | 2  | 47  | dating site/ "app  | Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics. Hispanics are of any race. LGB  | indicates those who identify as lesbian, non-Hispanics. gay or bisexual. Figures may not sadd to subtotals  | due to rounding. Those who did not give an answer are not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Oct. 16 28, 2019.  | "The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 