For decades, smartphones have had a big role in romance, love and dating. Many apps have been created to make it easier to meet a partner. However, dating app companies are in trouble. The world's two largest companies have lost more than $40 billion in value since 2021. Workers in these companies are losing their jobs. This is because young people aren't paying to use the apps. Companies need subscriptions to make a profit. However, many people in their twenties no longer want to subscribe to dating apps. Instead, they are using free platforms like TikTok to find romance.

In 2017, a poll found that by 2040, 70 per cent of couples would meet online. Today in the USA, 30 per cent of adults use dating apps. However, times are changing. Younger people have less money to spend on things like apps. The New York Times asked young people about dating apps. One 18-year-old student said she preferred to meet people in person, or through direct messages on social media. She said dating apps were "like a game". None of her friends paid for dating apps. She thought that paying for them was a no-no.