So, according to a new report from Grindr, I may, for once, be in the right place at the right time.  In its annual Unwrapped report, offering a snapshot of user trends and profile behaviors across the platform, it includes the fact that the United States has been dubbed “Daddy Capitol of the World” ….. Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada follow close behind.  It doesn’t come as much of a shock to us, but other facts like that Ireland leads the pack for self-identified “bears” on Grindr is a total surprise.

The report is split into two sections. The first draws on data from the gay dating app’s more than 15 million monthly users, highlighting identity markers, sexual habits, fetishes, dating patterns, and connection styles.  Some are very interesting …… but some are not,  e.g, do we really care that Switzerland has the highest percentage of users identifying as “twink“.  But if it’s sex you want to know about, then you should know that when it comes to sexual roles, South Africa has the highest percentage of users identifying as bottoms, and Vietnam, on the other hand, has a severe ‘top’ shortage.  France is the top hotspot for those seeking “hung bottoms,” followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia, but evidently, my old stomping ground….. the UK …. leads for “fem tops. ”   Who knew!   But when it comes to wanting a ‘verse’ date you can find the biggest selection in the chilly climes of Finland.  

If you want an ‘open relationship’ try South Korea,  and when it comes to friends without sex (really?) try Tokyo, where there is no risk of being expected to marry (as you can’t still in Japan)……although ‘let’s just be pals’ is quite prevalent in Seattle, San Diego, and Minneapolis too.

Medellín, Colombia, tops the list of cities whose users send the most pictures, India earns top honors for having the “Fastest Repliers,”   and Malta leads all countries in the share of users looking for “right now.” 

Pedro Pascal was named “Daddy of the Year,” beating Henry Cavill, Ricky Martin, Tom Hardy, David Beckham and ME. Jonathan Bailey earned “Hottest Man of the Year,” ahead of rapper Bad Bunny, Superman star David Corenswet, Sinners star Michael B. Jordan, and Korean pop idol Jung Kook.  The “Gay Gasp” award went to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter “Album of the Year” win at the Grammys. Meanwhile, the plush toy Labubu topped the list of “Trends We’re Leaving in 2025,” and “Delulu” earned “Gay Phrase of the Year.”

“The internet moves fast, but the gay internet is driving,” Tristan Pineiro, Grindr’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, said in a statement. “Unwrapped…proves gay culture doesn’t just follow trends, we create them. What starts in our community today becomes mainstream culture tomorrow.”

The full Grindr Unwrapped report can be accessed at grindr.com/unwrapped or on the Grindr app.