Key takeaways
- As of December 2023, 6% of adults are in open relationships
- Seek out a non-mainstream dating app
- Know what you’re looking for
- Be prepared to communicate about polyamory – everyone sees it differently
- Look for apps with lots of options for gender and sexuality preferences
- Include niche terms like “nesting partner” in your profile
- Ask people what nonmonogamy means to them
If you’re looking for an unconventional relationship, your dating app choice should precede profile “optimization.” Sticking with a standard platform like Tinder, you’ll find a lot of people not only won’t read your profile but also won’t know what polyamory is. Different forms of polyamorous relationships, where people have multiple partners, make up the majority of “unconventional” Dating App relationships.
Examples of polyamorous and other unconventional relationships
Polyamorous relationships are where individuals have multiple consensual, romantic, or sexual partners simultaneously. Three people might be romantically involved with each other or a network of individuals in separate but interconnected relationships.
Two examples of monogamous yet unconventional relationships are age-diverse and cross-cultural or interfaith relationships. The former involves significant age differences between the partners, often challenging societal norms about age and romance.
In cross-cultural or interfaith relationships, one partner’s cultural or religious background differs from the other’s. These relationships are untypical as they often involve navigating challenges related to cultural norms, beliefs, or family expectations.
Surprising statistics on non-monogamous relationships
A 2019 Canadian study found that 20% of individuals in a demographically representative sample had engaged in some form of ethical non monogamy. An earlier study on Americans revealed a comparable result. They might not be many, but as the researchers concluded, that’s how many Americans speak a language other than English or have pets.
More recent statistics indicate that 2-3% of US adults are consensually non-monogamous, assuming that about 70% are in a relationship. This comes to millions of people.
In December 2020, polling firm YouGov reported that 5% of adults were in open relationships and 3% in polyamorous relationships. A second poll in December 2023 revealed that the numbers had increased to 6% and 4%.
Mentions of nonmonogamy-related terms on OkCupid profiles increased by 45% from 2021 to 2023.
How to maximize your chances on dating apps
Ditch mainstream apps and try ones like Feeld, which targets couples and singles. Look for apps with a wide variety of options for sexuality and gender preferences.
In Feeld, you can link your profile to a partner’s, allowing you to date as part of a couple. This is a good option to use if you’re seeking to date couples. When you like one partner’s profile, you can easily check out their partner’s profile to get a better idea of what they are alike as people.
You might include niche terms like “nesting partner” or “kitchen-table polyamory” in your profile, if applicable.
As for opening lines, you could ask, “What does nonmonogamy mean to you?” This open-ended question can give insight into how your match generally sees relationships. More specifically, it lets you find out what they’re looking for.
Recap
- Polyamory accounts for the majority of unconventional relationships
- More people are non-monogamous than you might think
- Maximizing one’s chances on dating apps
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