Rising Costs Are Reshaping How People Date and Commit
A growing body of research suggests that modern relationships are being shaped as much by economic pressure as by personal preference, with dating apps and relationship platforms seeing the effects firsthand. New survey data and app-reported trends point to a dating landscape where traditional expectations around commitment, exclusivity, and even emotional fulfillment are being reconsidered. A recent study from Gamblizard found that roughly half of Gen Z and Millennials say they would remain in an unhappy relationship for financial stability, compared with 34% of Gen X. The findings arrive amid persistent housing affordability issues, higher everyday costs, and a job market many younger adults view as uncertain. Together, these forces are contributing to what some analysts describe as a “survival dating era,” where relationships increasingly function as economic partnerships. This financial lens overlaps with a broader shift already underway in how people define relationships. Data from multiple surveys show rising openness to non-traditional arrangements. A 2025 Hims survey reported that 61% of Americans are open to non-monogamous relationships, while YouGov found that 34% of respondents prefer something other than complete monogamy . Among millennials, that figure climbs to 43%. Dating apps catering to alternative relationship structures have reflected this change, with Feeld reporting a 500% increase over three years in users identifying as ethically non-monogamous or polyamorous. Industry researchers note that economic stress may also be influencing the type of partners people seek. Stability and predictability are increasingly valued, sometimes over emotional intensity or long-term compatibility. Match Group, working with the Kinsey Institute, has previously observed that singles want “less rigid definitions of the word ‘relationship’,” a trend that aligns with both financial caution and evolving social norms. At the same time, these shifts are creating new challenges. Experts point out that staying in a relationship primarily because leaving feels economically unsafe can delay personal growth and normalize unhealthy dynamics. Financial dependence may also intensify anxiety within partnerships , shaping attachment patterns and conflict avoidance – even if it means things like keeping money-related secrets or openly arguing about finances. While most people still choose monogamy, the assumption that it is the only valid or practical option is weakening. As economic realities and social expectations continue to evolve, the dating world is expanding to include a wider range of relationship models – driven as much by necessity as by choice.

Rising Costs Are Reshaping How People Date and Commit

A new report published by dating app Feeld indicated a substantial increase in the number of users identifying as heteroflexible, placing the term among the fastest-growing sexual identities recorded on the platform over the past year. The findings were outlined in Feeld’s Raw 2025 report, an annual review examining how sexual identities, desires and relationship structures evolved among its global user base during the year. According to the data, the number of users describing themselves as heteroflexible rose by 193 per cent compared with the previous year. Heteroflexibility is generally used to describe individuals who identify as heterosexual but remain open to, or have occasional, sexual or romantic experiences with people of the same sex. Mental health and psychology platform Verywell Mind has previously described the term as a subset within the broader bisexual spectrum, noting that while bisexual individuals may experience attraction to more than one gender consistently, heteroflexible people primarily identify as straight while allowing for exceptions. Research referenced by Verywell Mind has suggested that approximately 15 per cent of people in the United States identify as heteroflexible, indicating that the term has gained wider recognition beyond niche dating communities. Feeld’s report stated that millennials accounted for the largest proportion of users identifying as heteroflexible. Around two-thirds of those who selected the label belonged to the millennial age group. Gen Z users made up 18 per cent of the group, while 15.5 per cent were classified as Gen X. Geographically, Berlin emerged as the city with the highest number of users identifying as heteroflexible on the app. The city also recorded the greatest concentration of users in open relationships. New York City, meanwhile, registered the fastest growth in users identifying as bisexual, with an increase of 161 per cent during the same period. Commenting on the findings, Dina Mohammad-Laity, Feeld’s vice-president of data, said the platform had observed notable changes in how users approached intimacy and identity. “We’re seeing a surge in people exploring connection and playfulness in authentic, fluid ways, redefining what it means to be seen and to connect in 2025,” she said. The report also noted that the term heteroflexible was used by individuals with varied experiences and motivations. This included people who had previously engaged in same-sex encounters, those who experienced occasional same-sex attraction, individuals who described themselves as bi-curious, and people in heterosexual relationships who were open to non-traditional sexual experiences, including threesomes. Coverage by Vice has previously suggested that part of the rise in heteroflexibility may stem from the breadth of situations the label encompasses, allowing individuals to articulate attraction or curiosity without fully adopting a bisexual or pansexual identity. However, the growing use of the term has also prompted criticism. Some members of bisexual and pansexual communities have expressed concern that heteroflexibility could dilute or overshadow identities that have historically faced marginalisation and limited visibility. Dr Luke Brunning, a lecturer in applied ethics at the University of Leeds, addressed the broader implications of the data in a statement released alongside the report. “These changes speak to the growing awareness that sexuality is complex,” he said. “If anything, it would be surprising if people were never sexually curious about people of their own sex or gender, or if attraction worked in neat and predictable ways.”

Heteroflexibility explained: Millennials lead growth in emerging sexual identity. What is it?

GDI Podcast: Feeld’s Lavina Lim on Building a Dating App for the Curious, Not the Destination-Focused
In this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Bill Alaina sits down with Lavina Lim, Product Manager at Feeld, to explore how the app is redefining dating through curiosity, fluidity, and self-discovery. Lavina shares Feeld’s origin story and explains how the platform was built to challenge heteronormative, destination-focused dating models in favour of more open, exploratory approaches to connection
The conversation dives into how Feeld designs for non-linear dating journeys, supporting singles, couples, and ethically non-monogamous communities alike. Lavina outlines how product features such as flexible identity expression, browsing without forced decisions, group chats, and linked profiles reflect the realities of modern relationship dynamics and the growing demand for community-driven experiences.

GDI Podcast: Feeld’s Lavina Lim on Building a Dating App for the Curious, Not the Destination-Focused

Low-Effort Profiles Are Undermining the Dating Experience
According to the 2025 edition of Feeld’s “State of Dating Vol. IV,” roughly seven in ten heterosexual men aged 29–44 surveyed say they have rarely or never updated their profile since first creating it. In contrast, women are far more likely to revisit and refine their profiles, especially to clarify their preferences, boundaries or deal-breakers. The report frames this disparity as more than cosmetic: it reflects a gendered divide in relationship readiness and effort. Analysts and dating-industry observers say the issue isn’t merely about laziness. Rather, many men appear emotionally disengaged, or uncertain about what they want – while women, increasingly tired of swiping fatigue and repeated disappointments, are investing in clarity and honest representation. For some users and commentators, the implications are bleak. As one matchmaking professional quoted by Newsweek says, minimal bios, outdated photos, and passive attitudes may result in missed connections or mismatches – contributing to frustration and rapid burnout among those seeking genuine relationships. Not only does this make it harder for people with defined wants to find partners that might match them, but also makes the users with non-maintained profiles far less likely to get any matches, leading to them quitting apps faster. The broader context may matter, too: industry reports indicate that many dating apps are now grappling with swipe fatigue, declining engagement, and growing dissatisfaction among users . In that light, the findings from Feeld suggest that this user behaviour – especially from users that have used many apps prior – could be both a symptom and a cause of being burned out with the whole experience of having to set up a dating profile on each new platform the user tries.

Low-Effort Profiles Are Undermining the Dating Experience

Courtesy of A24…
Thanks to The Brutalist’s Kate Forbes and knitwear designer Ilana Blumberg, you can buy Adrien Brody’s sweater. Costume designer Kate Forbes has recreated the gray sweater worn by Adrien Brody in The Brutalist, teaming up with British knitwear designer Ilana Blumberg to make it available for purchase. The original garment, a vintage find from Berlin’s Theatrekunst costume house, drew widespread attention for its sculptural form and dense knit. Forbes and Blumberg stayed true to its architectural silhouette while updating details like sleeve length and ribbing for modern wear. The new version preserves the structure and weight that made the on-screen piece so distinctive. According to new research, invasive rats played a “key role” in the deforestation of Easter Island. New research shifts the narrative around Easter Island’s deforestation, highlighting invasive rats as a primary ecological force. Archaeologists Terry L. Hunt and Carl P. Lipo modeled rat populations growing from a few individuals to more than 11 million in under five decades, consuming up to 95 percent of the palm seeds and preventing forest regeneration. The study challenges the long-held belief that human overuse alone caused the island’s tree loss, showing that the rodents, arriving on Polynesian boats, acted as a hidden but powerful driver of ecological collapse. By separating rats from the human subsistence model, the research reframes Rapa Nui’s environmental history and underscores the impact of invasive species on fragile ecosystems. Credit: Zara…
Zara and Ludovic de Saint Sernin are continuing their partnership with a fashion capsule. Ludovic de Saint Sernin is expanding his collaboration with Zara through a new capsule of ready-to-wear, accessories, and beauty launching November 17. The collection builds on his minimalist, sensual aesthetic with leather coats, metal mesh dresses, and tailored separates inspired by New York. It also introduces a beauty line spanning lip glosses to skincare tools. A campaign film directed by Gordon von Steiner features Alex Consani, Amelia Gray, and de Saint Sernin himself, marking the next chapter in the designer’s ongoing partnership with the retailer. Sarah Hoover’s memoir about navigating the art world as a new mother is being adapted for TV. Sarah Hoover’s memoir The Motherload: Episodes From the Brink of Motherhood is being developed as a television drama at 20th Television. Hoover will co-write the pilot with Sas Goldberg, with Stuart Zicherman serving as showrunner. The series follows a millennial art dealer whose experience of new motherhood upends her sense of identity, marriage, and ambition. Adapted from Hoover’s unflinching account of postpartum depression and disillusionment, the show examines the darker realities often omitted from cultural narratives about motherhood. A teenage visitor to the Met went on a rampage, vandalizing centuries-old tapestries and paintings. A 19-year-old visitor was arrested after damaging multiple artworks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including a 19th-century French portrait and a 16th-century Italian altarpiece. Police said the teen threw water at both paintings and tore two tapestries before being detained. The museum described the visitor as behaving erratically but confirmed that no one was injured and that the artwork can be repaired for roughly $1,000. Authorities have not determined a motive for the vandalism. Courtesy of Feeld…
Today’s attractive distractions:
First, Feeld brought a fresh take to dating apps. Now it’s doing the same with its print mag. A stage at the Hollywood Bowl has been named in honor of John Williams. Did you catch Patti Smith on Rosalía’s new album? Is the rest of the world catching up to the brilliance of ring-based health trackers?

Thanks to Two Designers, You Can Now Buy Adrien Brody’s Sweater from ‘The Brutalist’, and Other News

The Kinsey Institute is an interdisciplinary research center and archival collection focusing on the science of human sexuality, gender, and reproduction. It provides research, historical preservation, and education programs related to sexuality and relationships. The institute serves sectors related to academic research, sexual health education, and gender studies. It is based in Bloomington, Indiana.

Kinsey Institute

NEW YORK , September 4 , 2024 -- Feeld , the dating app for the curious , in collaboration with Dr .

Justin Lehmiller from The Kinsey Institute or Feeld ’ s CEO , Ana Kirova , please contact :
Gen Z is Transforming Sexuality and Relationships : Groundbreaking Insights from Feeld and Kinsey Institute Key Findings Contextual Analysis Implications for the Future For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Dr

Upfluence is an influencer and affiliate marketing platform that focuses on e-commerce and social commerce. The company provides tools for brands and agencies to discover, manage, and measure influencer partnerships, as well as to automate campaign processes using AI. Upfluence serves the e-commerce industry and offers solutions that integrate with various online store platforms. It was founded in 2013 and is based in Lyon, France.

Upfluence

Storyblok is a headless content management system (CMS) that provides a visual editor for content creation, an API-first approach for integration, and a component-based architecture for content delivery. Storyblok serves enterprises, developers, and marketers focused on their content management processes. It was founded in 2017 and is based in Linz, Austria.

Storyblok

Lingvist

Feeld is a dating app for individuals seeking alternative relationships. The platform allows users to connect and share experiences in a community-focused setting, with features that include community events and a magazine. Feeld serves users interested in diverse dating experiences and those expressing their unique identities. It is based in London, England.

Date	10/22/2015
Round	Angel
Amount	$0.5M
Investors	Undisclosed Angel Investors
Valuation	$XXM
Revenue	0 FY undefined
Sources	1

How VCs Use CB Insights

Professional Services

Platform Overview

Feeld

Total Raised

Funding, Valuation & Revenue