While consumers rely on dating apps to find romantic partners, the vast majority would like to feel more confident that other users are representing themselves accurately, according to a recent survey report from TransUnion. The survey found that 85% of women and 87% of men believe that dating platforms should verify user information such as age, recency of photos, and location.

According to the company's “2025 Online Dating Survey,” trust and safety were of utmost concern to online daters — regardless of age, gender, generation, income or education. In fact, users of every age expressed concern about scams -- and among those 55 and older, 54% said they were "very concerned" about scams, 33% were somewhat concerned; only 4% were not at all concerned.

Consumers cited inconsistencies with how people portray themselves on their profiles compared to how they appear in person. The most common complaint among men and women was that pictures were inaccurate or misleading. Women were twice as likely as men to say people lied about their age, while men were more likely to report being the victim of a bait and switch scheme.

For these reasons, more than three quarters of users are willing to undergo background checks—a finding consistent across gender, age and geographic segments. About a quarter of respondents said they would be willing to pay for their own background check, while nearly 40% expressed a willingness to pay for background checks for both themselves and potential dates.

The full report contains more data and details that shed light on this burgeoning market segment.

To access the full report, click here