How does Gen Z determine if a match is meaningful on dating apps? Here are the surprising details

Gen Z online dating habits: For Gen Z daters, even texting carries emotional weight: the tone, the pace, even how many emojis were used in a text matter (Image: Pexels)

• 3 in 5 Gen Z daters judge connections by vulnerability and response time
• 41 percent prefer matches who show vulnerability for deeper conversations
• Inconsistent response times make Gen Z feel undervalued and trigger negativity.

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Modern dating is not flimsy or restricted to photos and bios; it goes well beyond that. Many Gen Z daters look for meaningful markers for a genuine connection. According to a fresh survey by dating app QuackQuack, 3 in 5 Gen Z daters decide if a connection is shallow or real based on vulnerability level, response time, and more nuanced qualities.

The online survey was conducted among 8,567 Gen Z 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.

QuackQuack'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."

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Vulnerability is digital currency

41 percent of daters between 22 and 26 shared that they feel more comfortable interacting with a match who shows 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 some quirky habit or admitting to having a flaw instantly makes a conversation more human and easy-flowing. It shows that the person is neither scared of being their authentic self nor do they expect their partner to act put-together at all times. Such conversations encourage a deeper connection from early on.

Response time equals emotional feedback

Over 33 percent of women and 25 percent 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 implies intention. Abrupt or delayed replies without context trigger negative assumptions, even if the reason is innocent.

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Long texts over lazy replies

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. 17 percent of participants called unbalanced effort the biggest disrupter of relationship rhythm.