QuackQuack Survey Finds Rise in Cross-Generational Dating in India

Love doesn't always stay within the same age bracket. In modern dating, it isn't unusual to see a Gen Z dating a Millennial, debating whether the 90s were better or if it's just the nostalgia that makes everything seem happier than it was. India's most popular dating app, QuackQuack, revealed that a few years back, cross-generational dating saw a dip, but in the past two years, it has been quite the opposite, with more young daters treating age as a checkbox they are willing to skip. To understand what's pushing this trend, the app surveyed 7394 daters from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, between the ages of 20 and 38. Participants were selected from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to ensure a more comprehensive knowledge.

QuackQuack's CEO, Ravi Mittal, said, "The rise in cross-generational dating indicates a shift in priorities among the modern daters. We are seeing more people base their matches on the mental age of a person than their real age."

Metros Vs. Suburbs- Where does Age-Gap matter more?

QuackQuack's survey revealed that users from metropolitan cities are more open to dating someone with a significant age gap when compared to suburban areas. In cities like Delhi and Bangalore, 22% of Gen Z users between 20 and 25 have matched with users 7 to 8 years older; some claimed older daters are more set in their intentions and are generally more caring. 16% of suburban daters also matched with people beyond their age bracket, though the maximum difference remained within the 'safe' 3 to 4 years.

Vibes or Vintage- the debate continues

Gen Zs and younger Millennials bring vibes to the table: the meme collections, new slang, and modern trends. Their older counterparts, on the other hand, are more vintage in their demeanor; from career advice, and endless "fun facts," to stability and an impressive knowledge of 90s music, they have a lot to offer too. 27% of women between 23 and 26 said they enjoy the wisdom and maturity of older men, while 18% of women above 30 revealed they prefer dating younger men for their energetic and spontaneous approach to life.

It goes beyond romance.

Dating apps are no longer limited to dating; 2 in 8 people find connections that go beyond romance, and more than 25% of these matches are noted to have a considerable age difference. Respondents, 27% of women and 11% of men, explained that they might have matched with someone younger or older, intending a romantic connection, but the same age gap transformed the relationship into something more meaningful: friend, mentor, travel buddies, and more. Ajay (31), from Pune, said, "Cross-generational matches are not limited to romance. I sometimes match with younger people because I want to learn; I have actually once matched with a 25-year-old because I wanted to know what on earth is 'rizz'."