Online dating has taken over how people in Atlantic Canada meet a partner in 2025Published Aug 16, 2025Last updated 14 hours ago7 minute readOnline dating seems to be the number one way people are meeting a partner in 2025. UnsplashArticle contentWhen you think of dating in 2025, your mind likely veers toward online dating.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentDating apps, unfortunately, come with unpleasant stories. Ghosting, safety concerns and exhaustion are part of it all.Article contentArticle contentHowever, according to Jean-eva Dickie, owner and founder of Book of Love Canada, a Halifax-based dating service, the conversation around online dating is often negative because we hear mostly from the people who haven’t found success through apps.Article contentArticle content“Sixty per cent of marriages happen from online dating nowadays,” said Dickie. “That’s extremely successful.”Article contentThe people who’ve met their significant others through virtual platforms in a short period of time aren’t necessarily feeding into the conversation, added the matchmaker.Article contentEven so, dating in 2025 is not without its quirks.Article contentYou have access to people who live in your area, and they have access to you. This is probably the biggest shift that has happened in the last 25 years, according to Dickie.Article contentPlus, women are more selective when it comes to partners now.Article content“Women are inherently more educated and are higher earners now. We also have the ability to own a house, have a business and get a credit card on our own without a male’s help. This has created an interesting shift in the dating world,” explained Dickie.Article content Jean-eva Dickie is the owner and founder of Book of Love Canada, a Halifax-based dating service. ContributedArticle contentBigger sense of urgencyArticle contentSt. John’s, N.L.-based counsellor Latoya Newman added that people also feel a sense of urgency or the need to be quick in the virtual dating world.Article contentArticle contentPeople want to figure out, within the first few interactions, if a connection is going to go anywhere.Article contentArticle contentThings were taken at a slower pace two decades ago, according to Newman.Article content“We didn’t have that pressure. We felt (like) we had more time to get to know somebody,” she added.Article contentFears that someone might ghost you or fears that you might be wasting your time have made people approach dating with a sense of hurry.Article contentThere are more unsaid rules to think about as well now, said Newman: How soon should you disclose personal information? When is it OK to get physically intimate with someone? How soon is too soon to meet someone in person?Article contentMoving away from organically meeting someone to doing most of your connecting online has left more questions about what’s appropriate and what’s not, according to Newman.Article content St. John’s, N.L.-based counsellor, Latoya Newman, says people also feel a sense of urgency or the need to be quick in the virtual dating world. ContributedArticle contentAmanda Morrison, founder of Halifax Matchmaker, a private matchmaking service, believes we’re living in a world of “missed connections”.Article content“It’s become rare for someone to walk up to a stranger in public and spark a conversation,” said Morrison.Article content“With the rise of online dating, people now assume they ‘know’ someone just because they’ve seen their face on an app.”Article contentThe paradox of choiceArticle contentBeing able to reach anyone in your neighbourhood, country or even across the seas means you’ve been left with a myriad of options.Article contentHowever, humans have not evolved quite as quickly to be able to filter through these choices well, according to Dickie.Article content“We haven’t developed the ability to determine if somebody is good or bad in a virtual setting and sometimes even in an in-person setting,” she said.Article contentArticle contentTaking full advantage of the technologically forward world of dating means developing those skills, she added.Article contentBut the average human being doesn’t have those skills — there’s a reason why professional matchmakers, psychologists and lawyers have the ability to assess what someone is about pretty early on, said Dickie.Article content“They’re meeting hundreds and hundreds of people doing what they do as a career,” she said.Article contentDeveloping the skills to weed out the bad from the good comes with a lot of trial and error. In the dating world, unfortunately, that can end up being synonymous with danger and exhaustion, according to Dickie.Article contentThat’s why she feels matchmaking services have made a big comeback as of late.Article content“Singles need someone to filter people for them,” she explained.Article contentSpeaking of skills, let’s look at a few of them.Article content Communication is important in any relationship, whether it be in a marriage, at a date or when you connect with someone on an app. UnsplashArticle contentMake conversations the filter, not the profileArticle contentDickie is a believer that the conversations you have with someone should be the filter and not their profile.Article contentArticle contentTo this end, she actually advises her clients to open up their parameters when it comes to their typical criteria — whether that be age, height, distance, political views, what someone’s photos look like or whether they have a cat or a dog.Article contentBy consciously choosing not to be so selective based on someone’s looks or profile, you might end up meeting someone you’d have great conversations with.Article content“For example, if you are looking through 20 individuals, and typically you may only say yes to one person, I would set your next goal to saying yes to at least two people,” said Dickie.Article content“And that second person, I want it to be somebody that you would typically say ‘no’ to, but there’s a smile that’s intriguing or a picture of them travelling somewhere that interests you. I want you to say ‘yes’ because we’re staying open. And then always lean towards the conversation.”Article contentDickie met her own husband by embracing this philosophy.Article content“He wasn’t my conventional type of man that I swiped right on, but I opened my parameters. I said yes to my husband, and the conversation was amazing, and then it turned into a wonderful relationship.”Article contentNot over-analyzing a profile and accepting that you don’t have to know everything about a person before you decide to meet them can help, according to Morrison.Article contentThat being said, it is important to know your dealbreakers, she added.Article content“Skip the endless back-and-forth,” suggests Morrison.Article content“If the vibe feels right enough, suggest a quick meetup. Go grab a coffee or try something new together. Make it light and pressure-free. You’ll learn more in 30 minutes face-to-face than you will in 300 messages.”Article contentAs for your own profile on an app, it’s about being clear about what you’re looking for and showing your personality, according to Morrison.Article contentArticle content“You’re not trying to be liked by everyone. You’re trying to be seen by the right person.”Article contentThe art of conversationArticle contentCommunication is important in any relationship, whether it be in a marriage, on a date, or when you connect with someone on an app.Article contentWhile we’re infinitely more connected than ever before (at least in theory), we’re probably less connected in person.Article contentTechnology, constantly being on our phones, and even the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have left us disconnected and struggling to have good conversations, said Newman.Article contentDid fewer distractions in the past influence that?Article contentIf you’ve ever been on a dating or friend app, you are probably more than aware of those conversations that seem to fizzle out because one person isn’t making as much of an effort as the other. Or perhaps the constant barrage of questions from the other person made you feel anxious, and you ended the connection.Article contentArticle contentEither way, the art of conversation is a fascinating thing, said Dickie. There’s a lot that goes into it.Article contentWho is doing the majority of the talking? Are you asking questions? Are you listening to the answers? Is there wit and banter? If there isn’t, is there engaging conversation? These are some of the questions that come to mind when one talks about the art of conversation.Article contentPeople can learn to converse well. One tip would be to lean into whatever it is you’re good at when it comes to conversation, whether that be wit or asking questions, according to Dickie.Article contentThat being said, some people can even benefit from working with a professional conversation coach if it’s a skill they’re struggling with.Article content Safety is key for any first date, but especially online dating, UnsplashArticle contentIs it harder to date now than it was decades ago?Article contentIt certainly seems so, but all the experts shared that it isn’t as clear-cut as that.Article content“It’s harder because we’re overwhelmed with choice and out of practice when it comes to real connection,” said Morrison.Article content“We let great matches pass by because the next person might be better. That mindset has made it harder to build something meaningful.”Article contentStaying safe and “sane” while datingArticle contentEmotional and mental exhaustion and safety concerns are real worries in the dating world, especially when it comes to online connections.Article contentIf something doesn’t instinctively feel right or safe, pay attention to that feeling, said Newman.Article contentSettling for someone who doesn’t share the same values that you do is also a bad idea, she added. Over time, this can lead to resentment and the breakdown of a relationship.Article content“Navigating modern dating means balancing access with intention,” said Morrison.Article contentWith long-term relationships, chemistry is only half the battle. Shared lifestyle goals, similar communication styles and real-life compatibility are vital ingredients.Article contentArticle contentBeing patient about the process can help, too, according to Newman.Article content“It is easier said than done. (However), if we look at it (dating) as a static goal that must be checked off, it brings up a lot of feelings of failure, disappointment and distress,” she said.Article contentGiving yourself more grace and looking at the whole thing as a journey is important.Article contentNewman drew from the analogy of finding a diamond in the rough.Article content“You’re trying to find a life partner. You’re trying to find a healthy connection. A hook-up is easy, because you’re just going to leave that along the way. But if you’re trying to find a person (with whom) you’re going to share your life and your goals and your dreams, why not take the time?”Article content
Swiping right? Here’s what to keep in mind as you look for your perfect match
