Love doesn`t always stay within the same age bracket. In modern dating, it isn`t unusual to see a Gen Z dating a Millennial, debating whether the 90s were better or if it`s just the nostalgia that makes everything seem happier than it was.
Indian dating app, QuackQuack, revealed that a few years back, cross-generational dating saw a dip, but in the past two years, it has been quite the opposite, with more young daters treating age as a checkbox they are willing to skip.
To understand what`s pushing this trend, the app surveyed 7394 daters from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, between the ages of 20 and 38. Participants were selected from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to ensure a more comprehensive knowledge.
QuackQuack`s CEO, Ravi Mittal, said, “The rise in cross-generational dating indicates a shift in priorities among the modern daters. We are seeing more people base their matches on the mental age of a person than their real age.”
Metros vs suburbs – where does age-gap matter more?
The app`s survey revealed that users from metropolitan cities are more open to dating someone with a significant age gap when compared to suburban areas. In cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, 22 per cent of Gen Z users between 20 and 25 have matched with users 7 to 8 years older; some claimed older daters are more set in their intentions and are generally more caring. 16 per cent of suburban daters also matched with people beyond their age bracket, though the maximum difference remained within the `safe` 3 to 4 years.
Vibes or vintage – the debate continues
Gen Zs and younger Millennials bring vibes to the table: the meme collections, new slang, and modern trends. Their older counterparts, on the other hand, are more vintage in their demeanor; from career advice, and endless “fun facts”, to stability and an impressive knowledge of 90s music, they have a lot to offer too. 27 per cent of women between 23 and 26 said they enjoy the wisdom and maturity of older men, while 18 per cent of women above 30 revealed they prefer dating younger men for their energetic and spontaneous approach to life.
It goes beyond romance
Dating apps are no longer limited to dating; 2 in 8 people find connections that go beyond romance, and more than 25 per cent of these matches are noted to have a considerable age difference. Respondents, 27 per cent of women and 11% of men, explained that they might have matched with someone younger or older, intending a romantic connection, but the same age gap transformed the relationship into something more meaningful: friend, mentor, travel buddies, and more. Ajay (31), from Pune, said, “Cross-generational matches are not limited to romance. I sometimes match with younger people because I want to learn; I have actually once matched with a 25-year-old because I wanted to know what on earth is `rizz`.”
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