As many people are turning to their horoscopes to predict their love life, Tinder have watched the passion for astrology play out on the popular dating app – and an expert weighs in on why
With so much uncertainty around dating, maybe your romance really is written in the stars. While the dating scene may be pretty tough right now, Gen Z are turning to the powers of astrology to be guided on meeting the love of their life.
With all sorts of astrology-based guides, from TikTok tarot readers and the booming #AstrologyTok community to extensive daily horoscopes, it might be the only way to truly find your match. Now dating app Tinder is getting onboard with the mystic lovers, and is watching people’s love for astrology on it’s platform.
The dating app found in a recent study that 30% of younger daters admit to checking a match’s star sign before going on a date and 40% of singles share that ‘astrology love predictions’ have been shaping their dating choices in 2025.
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Why is Gen Z obsessed with astrology?
With so much going on in the world, and so much social media noise, people say star signs and horoscopes can offer a sense of agency and order in such a chaotic world. Knowing what the planets are up to may help regulate anxiousness and emotions, giving people a sense of security over why they might be feeling a certain type of way – or why it feels like the world is against you.
Many people blame the moon, planets or retrogrades on certain life events, or even marking the end of a phase of life and Gen Z may then look for tools for coping with stress and anxiety, and astrology can offer a sense of control or predictability in uncertain times.
Tinder’s UK astrologist, who goes by the name Manuka Honey has given her thoughts, and the reasons behind the cosmic shift in dating preferences. As well as why astrology is becoming such a powerful and important factor for Gen Z when it comes to dating, calling it a “streamline” for connections.
“In times like these, where there are high levels of uncertainty and distrust of current systems, we often see a rise in people’s openness to alternative methods of cultivating faith, and making decisions. This is where the Gen Z (AKA the Pluto in Sagittarius generation) relationship to astrology comes in!”
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The self-described sonic sorceress said Gen Z treats astrology like a “personal roadmap” to the underbelly of their own psychology and psyches of others and added: “In a globalised dating pool where we have access to so many cool and interesting people via staple dating apps like Tinder, astrology is becoming their way to streamline connection.
It may be down to daters reading their horoscopes and “knowing what you’re in for” giving them a little confidence boost beforehand, already having an idea of expectations. The expert said rejection may not hit as hard when you know you’re dealing with a “flighty Sagittarius” while opening up emotionally might feel a bit easier when you’re doing it with a water sign like Pisces or Cancer.
Now Tinder is helping daters narrow down their options by showing people’s star signs on their profiles, and Manuka Honey noted: “The way Gen Z engages with astrology is a testament to their ability to find levity in dating; transmuting modern love into a series of quips about their attachment styles as air signs, or admitting they were convinced to swipe right on someone’s Tinder profile because of their love for Geminis.”
So it’s clear astrology has become a serious system of belief for Gen Z, and has become a useful and playful icebreaker on a first date – and the shared interest may just light that spark.
What is #AstrologyTok?
For those interested in their horoscopes and star signs, AstrologyTok is a booming community, where creators share content related to astrology, including explanations of zodiac signs, birth charts, planetary movements, and horoscopes.
It also features extensive breakdowns of what planet alignments are happening, what to expect in retrograde, and why things may be happening such as a job promotion, a relationship breakdown or a fall out with a friend.
Which apps are most popular for Gen Z?
Co-Star, an American app combining Nasa data and content from astrologers, rocketed from 7.5 million global users in 2020 to 30 million in 2023, while spending on astrology-related products is projected to grow to $22.8bn (£16.9bn) by 2031, up from $12.8bn (£9.5bn) in 2021.
Paid-for astrological services include “romantic compatibility reports”, which feels to me like the equivalent of when we used to put the names of boys we fancied in a paper fortune teller at primary school and let the fates decide which one we would marry (a prediction methodology that has had a zero per cent success rate thus far).
There is also The Pattern app, a widely popular astrology-based app that generates personalised “birth charts” using a user’s date, time, and place of birth to provide insights into their personality traits, life cycles, and relationships. It can also be used for self-analysis, life’s influential cycles as well as compatibility with others all for a deeper connection.
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