SoulfulDate has released findings from a voluntary survey of approximately 2,300 platform members on how they use Icebreakers, a built-in feature that provides pre-written conversation starters, allowing members to reach out to several profiles at once without composing a message from scratch. The survey, conducted from April to June 2026, reveals that 52% of respondents used the template without any modification, 41% modified it before sending, and 7% said their approach varies depending on the profile.
For those who stick with the default, the reasons are clear: 36% find the template sufficient to start a conversation, 33% prefer saving time, 12% say it already says what they would have written, and 19% cite uncertainty about what to write. This last group aligns with research published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking that found individuals with higher social anxiety are significantly less likely to initiate contact in online environments, even when platforms offer ready-made tools.
The data also shows how users calibrate their send volume: 43% typically select three recipients per session—the midpoint of the available range—while only 11% consistently send to the maximum of five. Notably, users who send to five recipients are 16 percentage points more likely to use the default template than the overall average (68% vs. 52%), suggesting that broader-reach usage correlates with a preference for efficiency over personalization.
On the other side, those who customize their Icebreakers do so for personalization (54%), to reference something specific from the recipient's profile (23%), to feel more comfortable sending something self-written (15%), or because they are dissatisfied with the default tone (8%). Overall, 76% of respondents describe the post-send experience as confident or neutral, positioning Icebreakers as a broadly low-friction entry point.
"The split we see in how SoulfulDate members use Icebreakers reflects something broader about how people approach a first message," said a SoulfulDate product team representative. "Some members value the speed and simplicity of a ready-made prompt. Others want to say something that feels specific to the person they are reaching out to. Understanding the difference between those two groups and what each of them needs shapes how we think about the feature going forward."
The survey collected no personally identifiable information, with responses stored independently of user accounts and an anonymity notice shown before taking part. All respondents were registered, active SoulfulDate members who had used Icebreakers at least once, and no demographic data was collected beyond age eligibility (18+) and prior feature use. Participation was opt-in, so results reflect engaged users of the feature and may not represent the broader SoulfulDate membership.
SoulfulDate is an online social communication platform accessible across multiple regions, giving members a space for written correspondence and building new connections at their own pace. The platform offers both free and paid features: registration and profile browsing are available at no charge, while messaging, long-form correspondence, and media sharing are offered as premium options. New members can follow the SoulfulDate setup guide to get started.
