Tinder Australia, Netflix partner for ‘Year of Yearning’ campaign ahead of new Bridgerton season release

Australia – Tinder has partnered with Netflix to launch a new integrated campaign ahead of the release of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2. The campaign, titled “Let Thy Swipe Season Begin”, aims to bring Regency-era romance into the Australian dating scene during the peak season for singles.

The collaboration is supported by Tinder’s newly released Yearn Index, which examines dating trends among young Australians. According to the research, more than three in four Gen Z singles want to experience a stronger sense of “romantic yearning” in their relationships this year, while 81% believe that yearning plays an important role in early emotional connection.

The findings indicate a shift in dating preferences, with young Australians increasingly valuing anticipation, emotional tension, and slow-burn connections over instant attraction. Tinder reported a 170% increase in mentions of “yearn” and a 125% increase in mentions of “slow-burn” in Australian Tinder profiles.

Tinder’s dating expert, Sera Bozza, said, “Yearning isn’t just fantasy or playing hard to get. It’s anticipation, emotional investment, and a bit of uncertainty that makes someone matter to you. Attraction needs space to breathe. When everything is instant, nothing feels special, and attraction needs something to miss. Physical chemistry is easy to find. Emotional tension is harder to build. Conversations, humour, and shared values are what make someone stick in your mind after the date ends.”

The campaign includes a storytelling film that reimagines meeting a date as a Bridgerton-style moment, alongside social-first content developed by creators who blend Regency themes with modern dating.

Courtney Act has been appointed Tinder’s official Dating Queen for the campaign, hosting activities, introducing singles to “The Ton,” and providing cultural commentary. Act commented:

“Dating should have a little drama, a little desire, and a delicious sense of anticipation. Whether it’s on Bridgerton, on Tinder, or on the stage, I’m all about letting attraction build, because the slow burn is always the most satisfying,” Courtney said.

Kristen Hardeman, country director at Tinder Australia, added, “Bridgerton isn’t just a global phenomenon, it’s a cultural moment. Partnering with Netflix allows us to meet singles right at the intersection of fantasy, romance and real-world dating. By bringing Bridgerton’s sense of anticipation, yearning and possibility into the world of Tinder, we’re reminding Aussies that modern dating can still feel exciting, intentional and full of sparks.”

The partnership aims to encourage Gen Z and millennial Australians to embrace intentional, low-pressure dating while drawing inspiration from the slow-burn romance depicted in Bridgerton.