Finding love in person trendy again, as dating app usage declines

Finding love in person is becoming trendy again, with dating apps seemingly on the decline.

Social researchers believe the mobile method had its day during the pandemic and that young people want to cut back on their screen time.

Melbourne man Timothy Maclatchy is a single 42-year-old who has ditched online dating.

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A few years ago the father of two decided to join social groups instead - a crokinole club called the Footscray Flickers and the Rubbish Runners, who clean up the streets.

"I was scrolling, spending an hour a day, wasted time I've got better things to do," he said.

"I'm okay at picking up rubbish, not so much picking up women."

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Share price data shows dating apps' heyday could be over.

Match Group - which owns Tinder and Hinge among others - hit its peak in October 2021.

It's now fallen 78 per cent from $75 billion to $15 billion.

Meanwhile Bumble was only listed a year ago and has already halved in value.

Some reasons for the fall include the fact that some of the platforms have become paid subscriptions as well as young people wanting to reduce their screen time.

On flip side, Darcy Todd says his speed dating business is booming.

"Straight out of lockdown everyone was looking to get out, I held one [event] and it just filled."