3 in 5 Gen-Z singles say vulnerability level, response time and message length affects depth of connection

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Who says modern dating is all about profile pictures and perfectly written bios? For GenZ, connections are built over more meaningful markers and small efforts.

According to a new survey by Indian dating app, QuackQuack, 3 in 5 Gen-Z daters decide whether a connection stays shallow or steps into something real based on vulnerability level, response time, and more nuanced qualities.

The online survey was conducted among 8567 GenZ daters aged between 18 and 26 from Metros and mid-tier Indian cities. Participants are active users of dating apps for at least 3 months.

The app's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "Dating is now much more than physical appearance or coming off sorted. It's more meaningful and intentional. Especially when it comes to Gen-Z daters, they want to look deeper; today, even texting carries emotional weight: the tone, the pace, even how many emojis were used in a text matter. We are noticing that over the last year, small choices make a huge impact when it comes to Gen-Z dating style."

Vulnerability is digital currency
The survey says 41 per cent of daters between 22 and 26 shared that they feel more comfortable interacting when a match shows honest vulnerability. 7 in 10 respondents said that while they don't appreciate trauma dumping from the first chat, they are tired of emotional poker faces. Sharing about some quirky habit or admitting to having some flaw instantly makes a conversation more human and easy-flowing. It shows that the person is neither scared of being their authentic self nor will they expect their partner to act put-together at all times. Such conversations encourage a deeper connection from early on. Aisha (25) from Delhi said, "I don't like mysterious people who give a 'nobody knows me' vibe. Those over-polished or mystery-types don't work in today's day and age. People want to meet real people."

Response time equals emotional feedback
Over 33 per cent of women and 25 per cent of Gen-Z men from Tier 1 and 2 cities revealed that matches with inconsistent response time make them feel less valued. The timing matters just as much as the quality of interaction; if both are not aligned, it is often interpreted as love bombing. Respondents explained that while a fast reply does not immediately mean genuine interest, disappearing mid-conversation without explanation almost always translates to unreliability and disinterest. For Gen-Z, timing reads as intention. Abrupt or delayed replies without context trigger negative assumptions, even if the reason is innocent.

Long texts over lazy replies
The survey further finds that 4 in 6 Gen-Z daters over 22 said they find a connection more smooth-flowing when the message length is mutual, not minimal. Longer messages are clingy is just another internet folklore, according to these daters. Aditi from Mumbai said, "Sending a long text doesn't make you look too available. What even is that? If anything, it makes you look interested and readable."

Lastly, 17 per cent of participants called unbalanced effort the biggest disruptor of relationship rhythm. "One person pours their heart out, and the other replies with a 'K', how's that even fair?" asked Ruhani (25). She added, "If I write a thoughtfully witty text and get a lol, I mentally unmatch immediately. It's not just about the number of words; it's the intent."