Online Dating in your 20s: Sites for Young Adult Singles

Young adult dating recommendations

Here are our top recommendations for young adult dating services. Check them out today!

Looking for different dating sites?

The internet is packed with niche-specific dating sites. You’ll find them for those in their thirties, the middle-aged and even those aimed at seniors. However, until now, the millennial generation has often felt ignored when it came to online dating apps and sites and let’s be fair, they’re the ones online dating, who really launched them in a big way, especially mobile apps.

Whether you’re a student or a young professional, finding the right person in a busy world can be difficult. Recently, there has been a surge in the number of young adult dating websites, giving you the chance to cast your net that much further.

Knowing how to find the best sites might seem a little daunting – but that’s where we can help. We’ve researched the best and the most popular young adult online dating sites and put together all the information you’ll need to make an informed decision.

Who uses young adult dating websites?

Young adult online dating sites are used by various people from all different types of backgrounds. The one thing they tend to have in common is that they are young men and women in middle adulthood. This means that the users you encounter are likely to be in their early-to-mid-twenties.

Millennial singles use sites of this sort for many different reasons. It might be that they are the only youngster in an area populated mainly by the older generation. It might be that they have relocated and want to get to know other people quickly and conveniently.

University students make up a significant proportion of users, as do young professionals who don’t have the time to commit to dating in the traditional sense. Young adult dating sites give you the opportunity to get to know your matches, at a pace that’s best for you.

They also provide a comforting level of anonymity. This is particularly appealing to those who may not have had much luck in the dating game and are possibly lacking in confidence.

Flirting without the pressure of face-to-face meeting can give some people the impetus they need to come out of their shells and get to know other users, before taking the plunge and going on a ‘real-world’ date.

What to expect from young adult dating websites?

Dating sites for junior adults come in all shapes and sizes. However, each offers different services and extras and are much more than glorified hookup sites. The best thing to do is sign up to a few and see which ones tick all your boxes.

The main difference between young adult online dating sites and your run-of-the-mill geolocational hookup apps is the level of detail involved. Some sites will ask you to fill in a personality test, which is then fed into an algorithm to help find matches that have a similar outlook to yours.

Others will require you to link to your social media account and use the appropriate information to help find the perfect partner. While this might be quicker than an online test, it’s worth setting up a separate email account, for the purposes of safety and security.

On any millennial dating site, your two best assets are your profile page and your photograph. Take some time when writing about yourself. Be sure to state your likes and dislikes, as it can save a lot of wasted time.

You’ll find plenty of tips on how to create the perfect profile picture, but the bottom line is to ensure that it looks like you and communicates something about your personality. Many a date has fallen at the first hurdle as the result of an inaccurate profile picture.

Which are the best young adult dating websites?

The best young adult dating websites are those that make you feel comfortable and give you the opportunity to communicate with users that catch your eye. However, the only way to find out which those are is to register with a few.

Good dating websites will offer free membership. While certain services, such as messaging and the ability to view profiles, might be limited, it does give a chance to give a site a test-drive, without any obligation to subscribe.

Some sites provide chatrooms as part of the service, to both paying and non-paying members. These are a good way to test the waters and engage with other users without the pressure of looking for a date.

Keeping your financial data secure is paramount, so look for sites that provide encoded and encrypted payment options. In addition, check to see whether the subscription you choose ‘auto renews’.

Auto-renewal means that, unless you cancel your subscription before it expires, you will automatically be charged for another period and remain a paying member for that time.

It’s also worth looking to see what protocols are in place, should you encounter offensive or inappropriate behaviour from another user. Good sites will provide clear instructions on how to block or report users that have ‘crossed the line’.

Some sites are members of the Online Dating Association, which was formed to uphold standards of service within the dating industry. While this isn’t mandatory, sites that are members of the association are worth investigating.

However, one of the best ways to see whether a site is for you is to check out online reviews. We’ve tried and tested some of the best young adult dating websites and our no-nonsense reviews will let you know what’s hot and what’s not.