Artificial intelligence has become a big part of online dating experience, acting as a tool that makes it easier to match with people and start conversations. But along with that, the risks have followed, leaving many users worried about safety, privacy, and who or what they’re really talking to.
A new study from Sumsub shows that deepfake profiles are spreading across dating platforms. Around 3/4 of single participants in the UK said that they have encountered suspicious images or videos that appeared generated through artificial means.
Survey data shows that 19% admitted they had been fooled through a deepfake, and 22% said family or friends faced similar deception. Women reported higher levels of worry about fake content, from personal experiences to greater belief that in-person safety measures are essential. Loss of money is one obvious danger, and some participants even admitted considering deepfake tricks themselves.
Dating services recorded user losses. The ten largest apps saw membership drop around 16% in 2024, hinting that individuals might avoid these platforms if they suspect extensive trickery. The trend points to deepfakes becoming a major source of caution for anyone seeking romance online.
How Dangerous Are These Disguised Images?
Individuals often assume they can spot manipulated images easily, but statistics indicate otherwise. Nearly four in five who were tricked believed they could detect artificial content beforehand. In the 25-34 bracket, 22% admitted being caught off guard.
Hidden motives are not limited to mild pranks. Some users have been robbed of large sums in an infamous incident that featured a person pretending to be a celebrity. Emotional harm also continues when individuals discover they have been fooled.
Physical safety can also be threatened. In one poll, nearly half worried about the possibility of violence, and many felt an even greater sense of mental and emotional risk. Real danger looms when criminals exploit artificial content for sinister plans.
Is Stronger Verification Needed?
Some research from Sumsub suggests romance platforms face the highest identity fraud rate among all sectors. Unsophisticated checks let criminals create profiles that fool genuine users. A better system of scanning photos and videos might protect daters from serious harm.
According to the same study, many individuals would accept stronger checks. Around 44% want deeper examination of user photos and videos as they sign up, while 46% want repeated verification to confirm authenticity. Over a third even support active monitoring of messages.
Data also shows that 78% think app providers should take responsibility for malicious material. Serious harm can arise if fraud goes unchecked, so public demand for better protection continues to climb. Strengthened screening and user education could be strong methods to keep dishonest tactics at bay.
Many daters agree that app providers have a part to play in maintaining trust. Cross-platform bans for repeat offenders could block con artists from reusing the same illusions. Though advanced technology can be dazzling, safe online interactions depend on sensible checks and a watchful eye from both providers and users. This path might keep romance genuine and safeguard vulnerable individuals from costly traps.
Expert Opinion:
Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, Head of AI and ML at Sumsub, said:
“Without meaningful action, deepfakes and synthetic content generated by AI represents a threat to the users of all digital services. Online dating is particularly at risk – as shown by the level of ID fraud it faces – more than all other sectors, even compared to finance or online media. Malicious actors can bypass the often-unsophisticated verification measures these apps have, sign up with fake information and images, and deceive people – often to scam for monetary gain or worse.
“This campaign underlines the importance of educating users around the dangers of deepfakes and romantic scams, but this must be accompanied by more effective verification solutions, so these apps can better limit the influence of AI content. Failing to keep up with fraudsters will only put users at risk of financial, physical and emotional harm – while also damaging the businesses themselves as the user exodus continues from 2025.”
More from Artificial Intelligence
How Is AR/VR Changing Dating?
The group behind “The Future 100” 2023 trend report, Wunderman Thompson, views virtual reality as a powerful tool for modern matchmaking. That vision relies on immersive spaces where users create avatars, don headsets, and interact in digital worlds. Couples can chat, go to restaurants, or attend concerts together from opposite sides of the globe.
Opinium polled 2,000 UK adults, showing 41% married, 22% in monogamous relationships, 28% single, and 9% in alternative setups. Around 60% doubt VR fosters genuine romance, 59% fear too much tech harms love, and 58% expect disappointment when digital impressions clash with reality. Still, 34% see it as a route to novel experiences.
Older age brackets voice safety worries: 50% mention predators, 43% point to phony profiles, and 31% fear data breaches. Among 35-54s, 24% speak of negative experiences, 17% cite expense, and 12% find it too complex. Younger adults find it time-consuming (16%), tiring (15%), and too full of decisions (9%).
What Motivates People To Try VR Love?
Those aged 18-34 are the most receptive, with 21% seeing no hurdle to online matchmaking, compared to 11% of mid-lifers and 10% of seniors. Their comfort with technology seems higher, reflecting a generation raised around devices.
A handful of VR platforms covers different tastes. Flirtual leans on authenticity, VRChat and Rec Room host group adventures, and Nevermet promotes fantasy-laced dates. Planet Theta keeps it short at first but allows extra time if both sides click.
Opinium data reveals that 18-34s value VR’s ability to overlook physical looks (43%) and support long-distance bonds (44%). They also mention the appeal of easier self-expression (39%). Meanwhile, older participants put humour and personality ahead of visual flair.
Will VR Dating Become Mainstream?
Advocates say headsets are cheaper and simpler these days, which lets more people try VR interactions. Younger users adapt swiftly, but older folks may hesitate over safety and authenticity.
Some stay uneasy about the divide between avatars and face-to-face meetings. Worries about fake portrayals persist, and there’s uncertainty over matching digital chemistry with real-world vibes. Nonetheless, the youngest demographics treat these platforms as a natural extension of daily life.
Developers might strengthen privacy controls to reassure newcomers. With that in place, VR romance could offer deeper emotional ties that stretch beyond physical location. The next few years may reveal if virtual dating wins hearts across all ages.
Expert Opinion:
Julius Colwyn, Futures and Cultural Expert at Space Doctors, comments:
“Technology often focuses on outputs and end results, but human experience is much more nuanced. Romance, for instance, isn’t just about sex; it’s about courtship – the subtle dance of getting to know one another, drawing closer, revealing more, and moving towards intimacy. It’s about shedding our ‘identity’ and reaching authenticity.
“While technology has improved many aspects of our lives, it sometimes misses the mark when it comes to the underlying human experience. Algorithms have tried to automate how we meet, date, and match, but the world of dating can feel clinical, functional, and transactional.
“As AR and VR step into the realm of how we connect, see, and touch one another, they must tread carefully to play a positive role in our lives. For AR/VR and the Metaverse to truly serve the needs of romance, they must go beyond projecting our ideal selves and help us reveal our real ones.
“If AR/VR can enable our avatars to be more authentic expressions of our inner selves than our clothes or bodies, it could transform romance. However, if they merely allow us to project false ideals at a higher fidelity, they risk missing the essence of romance altogether.”
