For years, dating trends have been creating new words, anglicisms in the style of “Mingles” , “Friends with Benefits” , … – but also non-words such as “Pigging” , “Ghosting” , etc.
2021 saw the rise of dating trends like haunting. We owe this phenomenon of getting to know each other online primarily to the fact that we have all relied heavily on dating apps and virtual dates because of the pandemic and its consequences (isolation, ...).
The dating world never sleeps and continues to change, which can be a blessing when it comes to potentially saying goodbye cookie jarring and situationships
Let's leave the past behind us and focus on the last months of the current year and look ahead to 2023 - what are the most important dating trends that have established themselves in 2022 and which ones are coming our way in 2023?
While dating is never entirely easy and always involves some downside, knowing the latest trends can help you prepare for a new dating season.
You'll be better able to weed out the unfair participants and fellows with dishonest intentions and hopefully find someone who meets your wants and needs - yay!
So let’s dive in and see what’s in store for the dating pool for 2022 and 2023…
01 Fast Forwarding
This trend emerged after the pandemic and has grown into a mass phenomenon since this year.
Photo by Saffu @saffu, via Unsplash
Essentially, it means that you mentally look into the future, decide what your plans are for it, and then analyze how your potential partner fits into that picture.
The term was borrowed from the world of technology (e.g. from cassette players, music CDs or DVDs), with which you could fast forward to a desired location.
According to dating app Bumble , 34% of users surveyed say the pandemic has "drastically changed" their expectations in a partner - because we've had a lot of time to sit around and think about it.
Many also said they now emotional availability , with over a quarter saying they care less about appearance.
Basically, the pandemic has made us all a lot more open to serious relationships, and if these last two years have taught any of us anything, it's that being stuck with someone you don't have an emotional connection with 24/7 can be a real drag has.
02 Power PDA
As already mentioned, the pandemic has had a major impact on the way we date. This latest trend may be the result of almost two years of minimal physical contact. For many, dating has gone virtual, meaning no hugging, no kissing, and definitely no real-life dates.
Photo by Clay Banks @claybanks, via Unsplash
You could say that many singles felt a little deprived of physical contact, which has now sparked the rise of the Power PDA phenomenon.
Simply put, it involves copious amounts of kissing, making out, hugging, and the like in public places that make most viewers feel uncomfortable. According to dating app Bumble , more than 68% of its users say they are “more open to public displays of affection post-pandemic. ”
03 Exploridating
Exploridating is about meeting people you've typically never dated before . It's about being open to dating someone who has different interests and preferences than what you're normally attracted to. Exploridating can be extremely enriching and like an adventure trip.
04 Casual dating / sexual experimentation
The term casual dating translates into German as “casual meeting” and describes a non-binding form of relationship that usually involves sex. Let's be honest: casual dating is no longer a new trend.
Fleeting sexual relationships under this term have been around for many years. Nevertheless, it is now experiencing a kind of upswing and revival again.
After almost two years of essentially being stuck in our own homes, we've become much more open about our sexuality.
We're sexually starved and want to gain physical experience again, whether it's trying out the best app-controlled vibrators or testing new sex positions like the "pillow sex tip" with long-term or new partners.
So it's no wonder that when there is a lack of availability of potential sexual partners in the immediate social environment, people are increasingly relying casual dating portals and dating apps
05 Consciously Single
Photo by Ryan Moreno @ryanmoreno, via Unsplash
"We've all heard of ' conscious uncoupling ,' but in 2022 it's all about finding the ONE, not just anyone." The pandemic led to many people going through breakups and realizing that they were actually happy with it agree to stay single. This has led many to be more conscious and careful about who they choose to date and when.
Instead of “being single” as a bad circumstance to be avoided (which it absolutely isn’t), many people now see the benefits of being alone and love it.
06 Dry Dating
Over the past two years, many people have been reevaluating their relationship with alcohol, and according to Bumble, that's now spilling over into their dating habits.
The app's trend prediction survey found that 34 percent of global daters are now more likely to consider a "dry date" than before the pandemic, and 29 percent of Americans surveyed believe societal norms around drinking and dating will shift .
When we think about it, a nice latte date followed by a chilled walk through the park doesn't sound so bad...
07 Emotional Intelligence > Physical Attractiveness
dating platform Match annual Singles in America report, emotional maturity has never been more sought after as an attribute among potential partners. This year, for the first time ever, there was a decline in preference for physical attractiveness, while preferences for partner traits such as openness and acceptance increased significantly.
In fact, 83 percent of singles surveyed look for emotional maturity in a partner rather than physical attractiveness. The appearance of being a compassionate, progressive person doesn't fade.
08 Hesidating
Here we have another word creation from the two terms “to hesitate” and “dating”. This trend was first coined by dating app Plenty of Fish in its fifth annual dating trends list.
Hesitation , POF's dating experts explain, means: "Feeling indifferent to dating, unsure whether you want to date seriously or casually because life in general is so uncertain right now."
For around 70 percent of the singles surveyed, hesitation actually plays a big role in dating. Basically, singles reflect the uncertainty of the world at large in their dating lives, which leads to a reluctance to put themselves out there.
After nearly two years of almost indescribable chaos, many of us are clinging to the things that are safest in our lives. Wading back into the dating pool would honestly cause a certain level of anxiety that's kind of scary.
The step of opening up to dating again doesn't have to be scary. There are many tips on what you can do to make your re-entry into the dating world as pleasant as possible.
09 Political compatibility
OkCupid, which is particularly popular overseas, has also predicted a big dating boom for the new year , with many singles looking to get back into the game. Additionally, you will find that your political views become more important than ever.
In a world that is increasingly politically charged and societies fragmented into ever smaller political camps, shared political views and values will play a greater role than in the years before the pandemic.
Photo by Josh Barwick @joshbarwick, via Unsplash
OkCupid has found that singles are looking for people who match their political and social views. The operators of the dating site said that there was a 10% political increase in user profiles in 2021. They are also convinced that this trend will intensify in 2022 and 2023.
This makes sense because compatibility in terms of your political views is very important for a functioning and harmonious relationship.
10 vaccination status as a dating killer
In the last two years, there has hardly been an issue that has divided our society more than the vaccination status . According to British erotic toys and sexy lingerie online shop LoveHoney, fully vaccinated is your “most sexiest” trait.
According to Ness Cooper of The Sex Consultant, who has teamed up with the brand, singles are looking for partners who are on the safe side when it comes to coronavirus vaccinations and can easily accompany them to things like concerts and restaurants.
It is also about the aspects of safe physical contact. Many singles are understandably interested in being close to people who are fully vaccinated.
11 double dates on the rise
Ness Cooper goes on to say that double dates will likely become more common in 2022. She explains her thesis: “There are still hesitations and great insecurities when it comes to dating.
So, logically, double dates will increase as we still try to keep things within our social “bubbles.” At the same time, we protect ourselves a little.”
12 Slow Dating
Last but not least: Yes, he's still there!
Slow dating has been trending since the start of the pandemic, and with new variations popping up every few months, it's here to stay.
According to Bumble, “People will take the time to get to know each other and build a connection before deciding whether to continue the relationship or meet in person.”
The result? Fifty-five percent of people on Bumble take longer to meet a match offline. Jemma Ahmed, Head of Insights at Bumble , believes this is due to them having the time and circumstances to think more critically about what they want in a relationship.
“People are starting to get to know themselves a lot better ,” says Ahmed. “And as a result, they take the time to figure out who is right for them and who isn’t.”
