PixabayRidiculous haircuts, talking about Love Island and not owning an iPhone are just some of the reasons picky Brits have been put off a date, a study has found.
While technology and certain apps have allowed singletons to expand their horizons and meet more potential partners than ever, researchers have found your choice of gadget could see you lose out on finding love.
While bad breath, chewing loudly and getting drunk are still typical turn-offs, one fifth have gone off a potential love interest because their phone had a different operating system to the one they preferred.
And more than one in 10 judge a date if they have a cracked screen, saying it makes them seem careless, clumsy or cheap as they can’t afford to fix the damage.
A study of 2,000 UK adults also found three in 10 would reconsider a romance if their potential suitor was using an out-of-date phone which didn’t feature WhatsApp or social media apps.
Liam Howley, spokesman for musicMagpie who commissioned the poll, said:
Our research has shown there is so much more people take into consideration now when going on a date.
It’s no longer solely about common interests and physical attraction but how we engage with the world around us.
Communication is a key part of any relationship, so it’s understandable couples want to be on the same wavelength when keeping in touch.
Despite 54 per cent saying they would be put off a romantic encounter with someone who spends lots of time on their phone, almost half agreed it’s now more socially acceptable to use your mobile when on a date.
And just seven per cent would be put off a potential partner who had checked out their social media profile prior to their date.
Three in 10 admitted to screening prospective suitors online, with Facebook the go-to for searches, followed by Instagram and Google.
As a result, nearly two thirds will make up their mind before meeting someone new from a quick Google search or social media stalk.
And just shy of a quarter have ditched the date entirely as a result of their vetting.
While more adults would now rather keep in touch via text messages than a phone call, the research also showed that one in every four dates will end via digital communication. Ouch.
Liam added:
Smartphones and social media have allowed us to stay more connected, but we’ve seen in our study that it doesn’t necessarily mean everything that we do in our lives has become easier, especially dating.
It emerged that more than a quarter of those surveyed think dating is harder now than it was just five years ago, thanks to social media and dating apps.
But, of those who think things are easier when it comes to dating, six in 10 people believe the new digital age has actually improved the chances of meeting someone and keeping in touch.
Either way, dating remains a minefield.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.