Online dating catches on in Pakistan

Most Tinder users in Pakistan are reported in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore

Online dating, especially via Tinder is catching on in Pakistan, confirmed a study conducted by the Indonesian Journal of Communication Studies.

The study found that most of Pakistan's Tinder users come from major cities including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and are usually between 18 and 40 years old.

While dating is still considered taboo in Pakistan, especially for women, dating apps such as Tinder are amassing users, providing women a platform to control their sexuality, reports Deutsche Welle.

A user tells DW, that she has been using the dating app Tinder for two years, and she said although the experience has been "liberating," many Pakistani men are not used to the idea of women taking control of their sexuality and dating lives. Pakistani women are often expected to preserve a family's "honor."

All the same, there has been a noteworthy rise of social media and Tinder use in key cities.

MuzMatch, and Bumble are other dating apps people use in Pakistan, the latter being more popular among feminists.

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According to the above mentioned study, Pakistani youth is using Tinder for a number of reasons. While hook-ups, identity exploration and relationship building are the main stimuli many people also use Tinder to pass time, for relaxation, communication and making friends.

The outcomes of the study reveal that the people surveyed used Tinder for their psychological needs, such as finding someone talk to when they are lonely and for their social needs as well.