When it comes to understanding the latest dating trends that singles are using to find love in the digital age. Our relationship experts have compiled several tips to improve your chances of finding love…
Dating in 2023, for many, can feel like playing a game with constantly-changing rules. The frequent barrage of dating tricks and tips that flood social media may feel downright overwhelming. After all, you can’t open TikTok or Instagram without being met with tips for spotting a love bomber, hacks for upgrading your dating app profile, or horror stories from the “West Elm Calebs” of the internet. Despite this, you still probably still have the urge to “put yourself out there” and pursue a healthy dating life. With this kind of pressure surrounding dating in the modern era, it’s no surprise that it might start to feel like a full-time job. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be happy to know that the top dating trends of 2023 indicate a massive shift.
In 2023, experts predict a newfound focus on both personal and relationship wellness—as well as the lingering impacts of inflation and an impending recession—will transform how people date. Gone are the days of mindlessly swiping on the apps, sitting through rounds of cocktails at boring first dates, or getting caught up in yet another confusing talking phase (or worse—a stagnant situation). Instead, the most common dating trends of 2023 revolve around intentionality and mindful dating. To learn more about the changing dating landscape, we tapped three industry experts to reveal exactly how to date in 2023. Read on to get their top tips for finding love IRL, along with the seven biggest dating trends of 2023 you need to know.
Infla-dating
“Infla-dating” is the latest buzzy dating term you’re about to hear everywhere. The impacts of inflation hit just about everyone in 2022, from families to couples planning their weddings to those who are dating—and the lingering effects won’t go away overnight. That’s why dating app Plenty of Fish coined the term “infla-dating” as one of the biggest dating trends of 2023. Due to rising costs, they predict that daters will go on less expensive dates because of the current economic environment. This 2023 dating trend is also backed by data. According to Plenty of Fish’s internal insights, “nearly half (48%) of single Millennials and Gen-Z have suggested going on a less expensive, budget-friendly date.”
This shift toward affordable dating is echoed by Tinder’s statistics too. In the brand’s 2022 review, titled “Year in Swipe,” data from users indicates that “the dinner date could soon be dead.” Tinder found that “mentions of “Picnics” (43%), “Mini Golf” (56%) and “Drive-Ins” (34%) in Tinder bios all increased this year, suggesting that singles are meeting up for more than just dinner and drinks these days. They’re opting for less traditional, more authentic and sometimes sober ways to get to know one another. Other creative activities like Camping, BBQs, Trying New Things, and Street Food all made it into the top 10 trending global Interests on Tinder.”
Conscious Swiping
If you’re dating in 2023, you probably have a presence on dating apps. There’s no denying they’re the most popular way people meet—especially because this claim is backed by data. The Knot 2022 Jewelry & Engagement Study, which surveyed over 5,000 couples who got engaged or married within the last year, found that over one in four respondents met online. Since the apps are ingrained in the way people date today, they’re hard to avoid. But thanks to modern technology and features, it’s easier than ever to use the apps to swipe consciously on people who would be a good match. Now, fewer daters are swiping right on people “just because.” Instead, they’re mindfully using features to pursue potential matches who have similar interests, goals and motivations for being on the apps.
“We’re seeing that there is no more ‘gray’ dating where people are ambiguous about what they’re looking for or why they’re on the apps,” says Shan Boodram, Bumble’s Sex & Relationships Expert. She notes that the use of Bumble’s profile badges—a feature that allows users to personalize their page and indicate what they’re looking for—has become increasingly more popular, as it allows people to find potential matches who have the same goals. “People appreciate those who have their intentions up front,” she adds.
This trend is echoed by Kirstie Taylor, a dating coach and relationship writer. “At first, the dating app game was a free-for-all, and people dated on them as everyone else did: swipe and hope you find a good match,” she tells us. “Now, we’re coming to a point in history where self-awareness is at the forefront of conversations, including dating. People are realizing that they need to take their dating lives into their own hands and that includes dating with more intention.”
Avoiding Situationships
If you’ve ever found yourself in a situationship, you know just how frustrating it can be to consistently date someone while feeling like there’s no progression to the next stage. Luckily, there’s a silver lining on the horizon: The rise of intentional dating, which has been increasing since the start of the pandemic, will become even more prevalent this year, thus empowering daters to advocate for what they want from their partner. (TL;DR: 2023 is the year to rid yourself of situationship stress once and for all.)
Boodram, who also appears as an expert on Netflix’s hit dating show Too Hot to Handle, shares that Bumble’s research indicates daters used the past two years to reconnect with their priorities in order to date consciously this year. “We found that 70% of Bumble users said the pandemic gave them an abundance of time to self-reflect and to work with and on themselves,” she tells us. “Through that, they now have more confidence to say what is right for them.”
This trend forecast is echoed by Zac Stern, founder of Official, an app designed for couples to strengthen their relationships. “More and more people are realizing they can have whatever relationship type they want, as long as they’re communicating their needs,” he explains. “The concept of the situationship and other similar terms are likely going to pass because people now realize they want to get the most out of their relationships.”
Sober Dates
With a refreshed focus on wellness in 2023, people are reapproaching their consumption habits and tendencies—especially when it comes to alcohol. You may have heard buzz around people testing “damp” or “sober-curious” lifestyles, while others are revisiting the idea of full-fledged sobriety. “Through the pandemic, a lot of people have prioritized wellness, particularly in terms of their physical fitness, their mental fitness, and their consumption habits,” Boodram shares, noting that Bumble’s insights indicate that one in three users would now consider going on a dry date. “People have made massive lifestyle changes, so you likely want to be with people who are investing in the exact same way.” This is echoed by Tinder’s 2022 Year in Swipe release, which found that “over 25% of surveyed young singles on Tinder said they drink less on dates compared with last year.” Plus, when describing their drinking habits, “72% of Tinder members said they don’t drink or only drink occasionally on their profiles. In fact, the 🍻 and 🍷 emojis each decreased (40% and 25% respectively) on Tinder profiles year over year.”
This will, unsurprisingly, have a direct impact on how people date in 2023. Considering that a popular go-to first date idea is grabbing drinks at a bar, daters are rethinking how they’ll pursue connections with potential matches. “We’re seeing that people enjoy experiences more than just a traditional restaurant or bar activity,” says Stern. He adds that through his app—which pairs users with unique date ideas—insights show that couples care most about activities that will create a fulfilling experience. “You’re much more likely to create better memories when you’re doing something unique and new with your partner.”
So, what kind of dates should replace dinner and drinks? Boodram suggests turning activities you’d normally do in your daily life into date opportunities to test your compatibility with a potential partner. “If you suggest going to a farmer’s market and the other person only eats at fast food restaurants, you might have really different lifestyle needs,” she explains. “When you lead with your interests and your passions, it allows you to see if there is alignment with your hobbies and lifestyle needs.”
As a result, pursuing dates that reflect your true personality and interests will help you find a better match, sooner. “Lean into your authenticity and don’t buy into the idea that you need to hide parts of yourself so other people like you,” Taylor adds. “You want to find someone who is patient, understanding, and can meet your needs; not someone who is happy with a need-less person.”
Following Research-Backed Dating Tips
If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media, you’re probably familiar with popular dating terms like “love bombing,” “gaslighting,” “attachment style,” and, of course, “ghosting.” It might seem like there’s a new phrase hitting your feed every day, but experts say this is actually to daters’ advantage. Thanks to social media sites like Instagram and TikTok, research-backed dating tips are now being repackaged into buzzwords that are easy to understand and use in day-to-day conversation. “People are becoming more savvy in the dating field,” Boodram reflects. “Understanding negative and manipulating behaviors—and having names for them—is a big trend this year.”
By watching a TikTok that explains what an anxious attachment style is, for example, you’ll subconsciously learn how that behavior might affect your relationships, thus giving you tips on how to date in 2023 productively. Or, having a conversation with friends about a match who’s been “love bombing” you will actually help spread awareness of research-backed dating tips without you even realizing it.
Building Healthy Habits with Tech
Today, there’s an app for nearly everything you could ever need, as food delivery, shopping services, exercise classes and games all live at your fingertips. Now, relationship help does too. Stern, whose app facilitates communication and other productive habits among couples, predicts that more daters will slowly (but surely!) begin to use technology to foster healthy relationships. “People are starting to realize they have apps for how they do everything. So, why isn’t there an app for their relationships?” he reflects. “Five to ten years ago, no one expected dating apps to become the norm, and now we see how mainstream they are. Today, people are more open to the idea of using tech for relationship health.”
Since research indicates that dating apps can lead to less divorce, it’s only fair to predict that more couples will now turn to technology to strengthen the health of their relationship in all forms, from discovering date ideas to attending virtual therapy sessions. (Curious to know more? Read about one couple’s experience with a relationship counseling app here.)
Chasing the “Meet-Cute” IRL
Where is the “meet-cute” in 2023? With the undying popularity of dating apps, it might feel like rom-com-worthy meet-cutes are lost in the digital age—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While you can certainly find the meet-cute of your dreams on an app, daters are finding the confidence to go after it in person too.
“More people are realizing that love won’t just happen to them,” Taylor says. “So if they want to meet someone off of dating apps, they need to create situations and moments where they can meet someone in-person. More people will be intentional about meeting and introducing themselves to people they see in real life, because they know that love can happen in unexpected ways.”
If anything, chasing a meet-cute—whether virtually or in person—is a great way to preserve the excitement of dating in 2023. “People used to ask, ‘Are you looking for something serious, or are you looking for something fun?'” Boodram says. “But why can’t looking for something serious be fun?”
This year, people are understanding that dating should be a positive experience, rather than one that sacrifices your mental health and well-being. By prioritizing the fun in dating, you’ll create a more well-rounded approach to love in all forms in your life—and this will undoubtedly guide you toward a great partner and a healthy, fulfilling relationship.
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