18/05/2026
The recently published, large-scale State of Our Unions 2026 report (Institute for Family Studies, May 2026) has revealed tectonic shifts in the behavior of Americans:
1. The Onset of the "Dating Recession"
74% of women and 64% of men in the US (aged 22–35) stated that they hadn't been on a date at all over the past year, or had only gone out a couple of times.
It seems people have simply forgotten how to date. Because of this, the cost of making a mistake on a first meeting has skyrocketed. While people used to easily agree to a second date with a "why not?" attitude, in 2026, due to overall stress and low dating resilience, they are highly reluctant to give a second chance.
2. A Crisis of Confidence in One's Own Choices
Only 37% of respondents stated that they trust their own judgment when choosing a partner. People fear a second date because they doubt themselves.
3. Communication Deadlock (Hinge D.A.T.E. Report)
85% of daters are more likely to agree to a second date if they were asked deep, thoughtful questions during the first one. However, the reality is dismal: only 30% of couples feel that their partner showed genuine interest and asked enough questions on the first date.
On top of that, building communication with a real human being is becoming increasingly difficult. As people frequently interact with AI for various daily tasks, they get used to constant compliance and validation—something that rarely happens when dealing with a living partner.
This is definitely a wake-up call to start doing things differently!
👇 Share your thoughts: What kind of picture do you see among your friends and acquaintances? Do they date often, and how frequently do those dates actually turn into relationships? 🥰