Online dating has revolved around 2D messaging and profiles for decades, with no way of getting an accurate impression of a person short of meeting them in real life. With immersive, 3D environments, virtual reality dating allows for unique experiences like exploring art museums, attending concerts, going on adventures together, and even very memorable experiences like having dinner under the stars on Mars. Here are some intimacy lessons we’ve learned from early adopters of the technology.
A digital avatar can feel more intimate than a real photo
The best VR dating apps bring avatar-based matching, community-driven experiences, custom virtual environments, and other distinct features, leading analysts to predict last year that VR would take over the world of dating in 2025. While virtual reality and dating remain distinct concepts, VR dating apps do have some unique attributes that offer advantages over traditional apps beyond date locations, free from physical limitations.
Users can craft a digital avatar that embodies their ideal self. They don’t have to upload their own picture, which can be a big plus for people who are shy, privacy-conscious, etc. Yes, you don’t actually know what your date looks like, but that’s easy enough to find out, assuming you hit it off and agree to swap pics.
Even if you never end up doing that, it might be less important than you believe. Over half (55%) of respondents in a recent survey rated common values and goals as more significant than physical appearance and attraction, and 57% shared they had ended at least one relationship due to misaligned goals and values.
Virtual reality allows for creative expression via one’s avatar, potentially leading to a deeper connection grounded in personality similarities and shared interests. Another survey revealed that a third of singles planned to date in the metaverse, leveraging avatars to place a bigger focus on digital intimacy and communication prior to meeting in real life.
As of 2025, almost two-thirds (61%) of singles are opting for one date at a time versus casually dating several people at once so they can save money on first dates. In these budget-conscious times, VR dates are a nifty solution.
What is fueling the rise of VR dating?
VR dating involves using headsets and special platforms to meet, communicate, and connect in a fully immersive digital environment. Users experience virtual dates from the comfort of their homes instead of texting and swiping through photos. You can walk up to someone in a virtual bar and start chatting with them. Unlike a real bar, you’d know something about the person in advance (from their profile) and gauge chemistry. Voice tones, body language, and shared experiences come into play in VR, unlike traditional online dating, making connections on a deeper level feel easier.
Safety is another advantage of VR dating, which lets people meet and get to know each other in a safe virtual environment. When VR dating becomes the norm, catfishing could become redundant, and it’s nowhere near that now. According to FBI data, catfishing incidents increased by 174% between 2019 and 2022.
How VR is shaping the future of relationships
As VR technology evolves, it’s starting to impact how we date and view relationships in general. Early VR dating users are shedding light on how digital spaces can foster real emotional connections, even without physical presence. Eye contact, voice tone, and body language evoke genuine feelings of closeness and attraction, challenging traditional ideas of how intimacy forms.
VR dating emphasizes emotional availability and creative expression over physical appearance. Users often feel more comfortable behind an avatar, which can lead to deeper conversations and faster emotional bonding. Far from being cold or artificial, digital intimacy can open new pathways for connection, especially for those isolated by issues like distance, mobility, or social anxiety.
VR dating app users are younger than regular app users – most of them are between 18 and 30 years old. Another difference is that most come from gaming communities, sub-communities like anime, etc. There are also a lot of LGBTQ users because these apps provide a space to experiment with sexuality.
