Well, dating has certainly been a wild ol’ ride in 2022. But, what’s in store for our love lives in 2023?
Over the past year, our relationship priorities have shifted, with people favouring increased vulnerability and mindfulness, as well as giving sober (curious) dating a whirl. As we delve into cuffing season, a new trend called Winter Coating has emerged, whereby people reach out to former partners and exes in a bid to rekindle an extinguished flame so they’ll have someone to keep them warm over winter. The cost of living crisis is also having a major impact on dating habits, with many opting for “cash candid dating” — increased transparency over their finances (and money worries) in the early stages of dating. And, environmentally conscious singles are opting for “green dating” and eliminating any potential matches who aren’t aligned with their views on climate change.
Dating app Bumble has released its annual predictions for what we can expect in the new year. Spoiler alert: emotional needs are high on people’s list of priorities.
As Naomi Walkland, Bumble’s vice president for Europe, said in a statement, “2022 was a formative year with the return of travel, the drastic increase in our social lives and commitments, and a number of turbulent global events.” She added that many people were left feeling exhausted and overwhelmed in response to these changes. “In response to this, we’ve seen that people on Bumble are now prioritising identifying and clearly articulating their boundaries. These boundaries can be emotional, like being upfront about what they want or recognising red and green flags, physical, like ensuring they don’t overcommit themselves, or financial, encouraging candid conversations about previously taboo topics.”
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4 of the top dating trends for 2022, so far
New year, new me(n)
In a survey of 14,300 Bumble users around the world, 74 percent of men say they’ve looked inward and analysed their own behaviour more than ever and have a clearer understanding of toxic masculinity. The term toxic masculinity refers to a set of beliefs and behaviours including hiding your emotions or distress, using violence or “tough-guy” behaviour as a way of showing power, and exhibiting an appearance of “hardness”. 52 percent of people on Bumble are actively trying to challenge the gender stereotype that men shouldn’t show emotions out of fear of seeming “weak”. Over a third (38 percent) of people now talk about emotions more openly with male friends and half of men think that dismantling gender roles in relationships and dating will benefit them.