Love in the Virtual Age: Public Sentiments on Dating in the Metaverse

Abstract

This study examines public perceptions of dating in the metaverse, focusing on emotional connection, authenticity, and societal acceptance. Drawing on an affordance perspective and Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory, the study explores how perceived action possibilities of metaverse platforms and evaluations of relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity shape early sensemaking around virtual dating. Using textual and sentiment analysis, we analyzed 260 user-generated comments from Reddit and YouTube to capture how both users and non-users assess metaverse dating at a pre-adoption stage. Findings reveal predominantly negative sentiment, driven by concerns about authenticity, social isolation, and the absence of embodied intimacy. However, a minority of commenters highlight positive affordances, including reduced social anxiety, shared virtual activities, and opportunities for connection in long-distance relationships. By situating public discourse within the persuasion stage of diffusion, this study contributes to research on digital dating by demonstrating how evaluations of platform affordances and relational norms influence the anticipated adoption of emerging intimate technologies.