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More people will be single by choice -

Being consciously single is a growing trend. More people have embraced singledom and are happy to do so for some time. This is particularly true following the pandemic.

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More people will be single by choice -

A study conducted by the dating app Bumble found that "since the beginning of the pandemic, more and more people are remaining consciously single and being more mindful and intentional about how they approach dating."

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Zoom calls are not going anywhere -

For approximately two years, many of us got our fair share of Zoom meetings and communicating through a screen. It turns out they are actually a solid choice when it comes to meeting new people, too.

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Zoom calls are not going anywhere -

Not only is it a safe way of 'going' on a first date, but it also allows people to save time, money, and energy. We suppose it’s a good way to screen someone in the first instance and see if there’s a connection (pun intended).

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Sober dates -

Sure, booze can make you lose your inhibitions, so having a drink at a bar, for example, has been a popular first date scenario for a long time. But this is changing.

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Sober dates -

According to dating platform eHarmony, in 2022 some 94% of daters claimed that “they'd be interested in someone who doesn't drink at all." Swapping the bar for the café seems to be the way to go in the future.

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Sober dates -

In a survey conducted by the dating app Bumble, 62% of respondents said that a sober date could help them "form a more genuine connection."

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Mindful dating -

This is yet another trend triggered by the pandemic. People are increasingly mindful of their dating lives. They are more present with themselves and the people they are dating, and take it date by date.

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Mindful dating -

"Mindful dating is the practice of being present with yourself, the person you're dating or looking to date, and the dating process," explains Christi-an Slomka from the meditation and sleep app Calm.

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Honesty is on the rise -

After the pandemic, tolerance for meaningless chit-chat decreased considerably. People want to get straight to the point and as a result are more honest with the people they're dating. The term "coronesty" has been used to describe this.

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Honesty is on the rise -

"Many single people spent lockdown in solitude, reflecting on what they believed they could be missing out on by being unable to date and form relationships. Many of us remembered what makes us happy and we were shown, very clearly, what does not. This prompted many of us to find clarity about what we really want to experience in our relationships and how we want to live," says sex and relationship therapist Rhian Kivits.

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"Hardballing" is on the rise -

"Hardballing" in dating essentially means getting straight to the point. It’s when you have a clear vision of who you are, what you want, and what you’re looking for in a relationship (e.g. having kids, etc.), and you're not willing to compromise on those points.

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"Hardballing" is on the rise -

"The problem that we have nowadays is vagueness. This is what's creating 'situationships' and 'friends with benefits,' and people hanging on in the hopes that something more will develop," says relationship expert Susan Winter.

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"Hardballing" is on the rise -

"Everyone should start playing hardball in their love lives. Being more honest and authentic about what you want is a gift to the other person," adds Connell Barrett, a dating expert at Hily.

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"Wokefishing" is a rising trend -

"Wokefishing" is essentially a form of manipulation. This is when the person who is dating you says he/she agrees with your political views, shares the same values, and essentially mirrors your belief system. Except, they're lying.

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"Wokefishing" is a rising trend -

While finding someone with similar values and interests might be great, beware if you don’t know the person that well and it sounds too good to be true.

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Mental health awareness -

An increasing number of people are going to therapy, and in the future they expect their prospective dates to do the same. So much so that a 2022 Hinge survey found that 91% of users of the app hope to match with someone who also goes to therapy.

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Mental health awareness -

"I think [asking a partner to go to therapy is] a reasonable thing to say, because it's a want or desire, and I could see how it would lead to healthier relationships where both people are prioritizing (and) investing in personal growth," explains clinical psychologist Megan Fleming.

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PDA will be stronger than ever -

The pandemic left us with an increased desire to touch and be touched. According to a Bumble survey, 68% of users say they’re more open to PDA following the pandemic.

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PDA will be stronger than ever -

This trend has been pretty public in the world of celebrities as well. Public displays of affection have made a comeback and are likely to increase over the next few years.

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"Fexting" will continue to rise -

The word is used to describe fighting with our partners via text. Our increased reliance on phones will make this a more common occurrence.

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"Fexting" will continue to rise -

"This trend will continue to rise. It's a matter of convenience and an issue of preference. Whether or not it's healthy or effective really depends on the people involved," says relationship expert Laurel Holmes.

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Ghosting will continue -

Rejecting someone is easier than ever. It can be done at the touch of a button, and unfortunately it’s not something that will stop anytime soon.

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Ghosting will continue -

"This trend will persist for as long as we have an abundance of dating options and an aversion to awkward conversations. It's human nature to want to take the easy way out. Ghosting is a reflection of that," explains Holmes.

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Meeting people online will continue to rise -

This doesn’t come as a surprise for most of us. Online dating and social media were the catalysts for this shift. According to Statista, in the US alone couples who met online increased from 2% in 1995 to 39% in 2017.

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Meeting people online will continue to rise -

Many people are, however, a bit burnt out when it comes to online dating apps, preferring social media to meet new people. “Connecting on social media can feel closer to normal and real-world, sort of the way we used to go and socialize at pubs or bars," explains Barrett.

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Virtual reality relationships may become a thing -

Imagine setting up a virtual date, but instead of your average Zoom call, you put on a headset and meet your date at a virtual café. This might become a reality in the future, according to sociologist Jess Carbino.

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Virtual reality relationships may become a thing -

This will widen people’s dating pool, as you will be able to meet people from all over the world without having to travel long distances.

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TikTok (and similar apps) will dictate dating trends -

It doesn't take much scrolling to find the latest dating trends on TikTok. Names are given to experiences and they get labeled (an example being terms and concepts used in previous slides).

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TikTok (and similar apps) will dictate dating trends -

"The collaborative nature of TikTok gives one a sense of community. When you have millions of people confirming whether what you're experiencing is normal, healthy, good, or even bad, it can give you a sense of security," explains Holmes.

Sources: (The List) (The Independent) (The Guardian) (Mashable) (Inverse) (BBC) (Bumble 1, 2, and 3) (Metro) (Today) (Stylist) (USA Today) (StyleCaster) (Statista)

See also: Things you should never do when online dating

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