23 September,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Across Asia, modern life is making it harder for young singles to build the meaningful connections they want. In India, the challenge is not a lack of opportunities to connect but finding connections that feel meaningful in an increasingly busy and digitally connected world.
Young Indians continue to seek out social and romantic relationships, yet work pressures, exhaustion and the gap between online interaction and real-life connection are making it harder to feel genuinely connected.
To better understand this changing landscape of human connection, Match Group commissioned Ipsos to study how single young adults in India experience loneliness, social connection, relationships and dating. While Indians experience loneliness in their lives even though they are in relationships, the findings reveal a clear connection paradox: young Indians are actively looking for connection, but being surrounded by people and digitally connected does not always translate into feeling less alone. For many, the growing need is not simply for more ways to meet people, but for fewer, deeper and more meaningful relationships.
The Match Group Human Connection Survey, conducted among 1,000 single Indians aged 18-45, found that 35 per cent of Indian singles feel lonely often or always, even as 70 per cent are actively working to build new social connections and 75 per cent continue to socialise in person more than once a week. The findings suggest that loneliness is increasingly linked to the pressures of modern life rather than a lack of desire or opportunity to connect.
The survey said 64 per cent of Indian singles say they prioritise work or studies over their social life, while 55 per cent say they are too exhausted after their daily tasks to socialise. More than half (58 per cent) also say they feel connected to people online but lonely in real life, highlighting the gap between being digitally connected and experiencing meaningful human connection.
Despite these challenges, the desire for connection remains strong. It further says 72 per cent of Indian singles say they prefer fewer but deeper connections with people, while 70 per cent are actively working to build new social connections. Rather than withdrawing from relationships, the findings suggest that young Indians are becoming more intentional about the connections they want to build.
This need for connection extends to romantic relationships. The survey reveals that 78 per cent believe in true love and 77 per cent believe they will eventually find "the one". Meanwhile, 85 per cent say they are looking for a relationship in the long term, rising to 89 per cent among Gen Z.
The findings also suggest that young Indians are becoming more intentional about whom they choose to build relationships with. The relationship survey says 63 per cent would rather keep looking than settle for an imperfect match, while 72 per cent say they will only date people they can see a long-term future with, signalling a preference for relationships built around compatibility and long-term potential.
"Young Indians are becoming more intentional about the kind of connection they want," said Anukool Kumar, senior director, regional head, India & Middle East, Match Group. "The research shows that 35 per cent of Indian singles feel lonely often or always, even as 70 per cent are actively working to build new social connections and 72 per cent say they prefer fewer but deeper connections. This points to a strong desire for meaningful relationships, even as busy lifestyles and digital interactions can make genuine connection harder to achieve. Technology can play a role in helping people discover those connections with a goal that ultimately is very human: finding relationships that feel genuine, compatible and meaningful."
As people navigate these challenges, technology is increasingly becoming part of how they meet and connect with others. The survey 40 per cent of Indian singles currently use a dating app, while 63 per cent say dating apps help them feel more connected and less alone. More than half (55 per cent) say they are likely or very likely to use a dating app in the next 12 months, while 60 per cent describe online dating as exciting.
The research also indicates that trust is central to how people approach online connection. The survey 60 per cent of Indian singles say they are concerned about safety and inclusivity when dating online, while 52 per cent say verified and authenticated profiles and strong safety measures are among the most important factors when choosing a dating app.
These findings point to a broader role for technology in helping people move from simply being connected to finding meaningful human connection. As dating becomes one of the ways people meet and build relationships, creating an environment where people feel safe and confident is an important foundation for those connections.
The Match Group Human Connection Survey was conducted by Ipsos across India, Japan, South Korea and Thailand to understand how single young adults are experiencing loneliness, social connection, relationships and dating today. In India, the study surveyed 1,000 single adults aged 18-45 years across major metropolitan and Tier 1 cities.
