India, Jan. 13 -- For nearly a decade, dating has meant endless swipes, with the same faces popping up across multiple apps. But the novelty has worn thin. A 2025 Forbes Health survey found that 78% of dating app users feel emotionally, mentally, or physically drained, with nearly 79% of Gen Z reporting frequent "dating-app burnout." Now, singles in India are logging off and showing up. Mixers, singles fests, curated dinners and offline meet-ups are replacing swipes as the preferred way to spark genuine connections.

The exhaustion with dating apps, often called dating app fatigue, has become the dominant emotion of modern romance. Apps promised efficiency, but delivered repetition. Too many choices dulled excitement, and matches began to...