Dating App Companies Expecting Surge In Users On 'Dating Sunday'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's being referred to as the Superbowl of internet dating and it's happening this Sunday.
The days of digital dating are upon us. From Tinder to Bumble, there's a large selection of dating apps to choose from, but experts expect one day to be the busiest day of the year for online dating -- Sunday, Jan. 5.
"I'm kinda tempted to just because Sunday, you have a little extra time to see what's out there, so why not?" said Ashley Delacruz, of Morristown, New Jersey.
It's called "Dating Sunday." With research showing more singles meeting now online than through friends, family or at work, many people are not surprised it's getting its own day.
"It seems like a good idea to get some connections going," West Harlem resident Alex Dubuc said.
"I think it's a great gateway into getting to meet people, especially if you're kinda tied down at work," said Matt Vassallo, of Fairlawn, New Jersey.
On Sunday, Match.com is predicting 80% increase in user activity over its average, Bumble is expecting a 30% increase in new users, and Zoosk anticipates 1.5 million messages will be sent on its app.
"The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the time when the most break-ups happen and then we transition into rebooting and looking for companionship," relationship expert Andrea Syrtash said.
She says the day falls right at the peak of so-called "cuffing season," a time of the year when people couple off to combat the cold and loneliness.
"We have a short window before Valentine's Day, so it's a good time to sign up," Syrtash said.
Experts say if you plan to date online, you should update your profile, put effort into your photos, respond quickly and be specific and upfront about what you want.
"The nice thing about them is you can just be upfront with who you are and what you actually want which is maybe a little different from meeting someone at a bar. You wouldn't just say right away, like, well, I'd like to have kids, well, I'd like to get married. But, you can put that on a dating app and it's not weird," said Melissa Dahl, the deputy editor of the women's website "The Cut."
Another tip -- pictures on your dating profile should reflect and be genuine to your real life.
Dahl also says have fun. That's the whole point of online dating.
