A recent survey has found that Germans are becoming more relaxed about what they consider infidelity, showing a significant change in attitudes over the past six years. The study, conducted by the dating app Parship and the market research institute Innofact, surveyed over 1,000 Germans and is said to reflect the views of the broader population.
The results reveal a shift in how people view different types of behavior. For example, in early 2018, 97 percent of respondents thought having a long-term affair was cheating. However, by May 2024, that number had dropped to 85 percent. The view on one-night stands has also softened, with 82 percent now considering it cheating, compared to 96 percent six years ago.
Only 67 percent thinks that visiting a brothel is cheating
One of the biggest changes is in how people see visiting a brothel. In 2018, 91 percent of Germans considered it cheating, but now only 67 percent think so. The idea of kissing someone outside the relationship is also seen as less serious, with just 57 percent of respondents considering it infidelity, down from 81 percent in 2018. Women are more likely to see kissing as cheating, with 64 percent holding this belief compared to just 49 percent of men.
The trend also extends to online behavior. In 2018, 87 percent of respondents believed that signing up for a dating app was infidelity. Today, only 63 percent share that view. Men are generally more relaxed about this, with 55 percent saying that using dating apps is not cheating, while 71 percent of women still see it as a betrayal.
Younger people are stricter
However, the survey also shows that younger people, especially those aged 18 to 29, are stricter on certain issues. For example, 75 percent of this age group consider signing up for a dating app to arrange meetings as cheating, compared to just 54 percent of those aged 60 to 69. Secret meetings without sexual contact are also more likely to be seen as cheating by Generation Z, with 64 percent holding this view, compared to only 38 percent of respondents in their 60s.
The survey, conducted in May 2024, included 1,008 participants aged 18 to 69 from across Germany. The findings highlight changing attitudes towards infidelity, with differences based on age and gender influencing how people view loyalty in relationships today.
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