Big change in how couples meet

A viral tweet shared a video showing how couples have met from 1930 to 2024. Spoiler: it’s gone from church picnics and office water coolers to dating apps and algorithmic swipes.

Marketing analysis

What’s interesting isn’t just dating habits changing—it’s distribution channels. Love moved online the same way attention has. Platforms replaced geography as the main filter for human connection, just like marketing has gone from storefronts to social feeds.

Why it works

• Meets people where they already spend time (online)
• Uses data to optimize compatibility (or ad targeting)
• Scales infinitely with lower friction than in-person meetups
• Normalizes new behavior through repetition and social proof

Examples

• Tinder: responsible for over 1.5 million dates per week
• LinkedIn: many partnerships now start from business DMs
• TikTok: brand collaborations (and relationships) born from “For You” algorithm matches