Current Trends In Dating: Dating App Trends, Dating Website Trends, Popular Trends On Hinge, Bumble, Tinder; Modern Dating Culture, Rules, Expectations
When it comes to dating, there will be ebbs and flows with experiences, profiles, dates and more. Below is a running list of current trends, what to look out for, common terms and slang as well as behavior to be on the lookout for.
Some of these will eventually enter cliche and generic status on dating profiles but are relatively new but not necessarily unique or worth using in a dating profile. For now, get a feel of what to expect, encounter and deal with when dating these days and some hope and optimism for those that plan to take dating seriously.
Related read: Decoding Dating Profiles
Modern Dating Trends, Modern Dating Culture: Dating Trends 2023, Why Is Modern Dating So Hard?
Modern dating is worse than ever. People are outsourcing their dating efforts to ghostwriters, bots and matchmakers. Too many people are relying on apps and not meeting people organically. Social and communication skills are regressing thanks to technology, covid, WFH, loneliness, rising cost of living, work-life balance and recession worries.
Above that, people are dabbling in dating apps. Low-effort, just seeing what’s out there, listing Instagram handles is now the status quo. People are afraid and/or lazy to put themselves out there, be vulnerable, take risks, work on themselves or treat dating seriously.
Online dating is not easier than meeting people offline. You can create a dating profile from your toilet seat yet that doesn’t mean you are doing it right, will have success or be happy. Dating apps give lots of lonely people false hope as they are only intended to be used lightly in addition to meet people offline.
Luckily, there is a movement to also get off the apps and meet people offline like at bars, cafes, events, classes and more.
Related read: Dating Is A Full-Time Job, Dates Feel Like Interviews
Online Dating Trends – Expectations, Etiquette & Dating App Culture, Dating App Trends, New Dating Trends
Getting matches but matches don’t send a message
Matches are slow to reply
Matches unmatching after date is planned (to avoid being reported, free up queue etc>0
Matches send short answers
Matches don’t ask questions
Matches don’t ask for dates
Ghosting on dating apps
Revenge blocking – getting people banned on sites
Ghosting after first dates
Coffee dates
Video calls/phone calls before a date
Low-key first dates
People who would rather pay for premium, boosts rather than work on themselves. These people are looking for hacks and shortcuts rather than look at themselves in the mirror to assess what they are doing wrong.
Travel mode / tour guides – lots of people are using apps passing through town whether in town for a period of time for work or seeking something casual or seeking tour guides
Sober dates – this is both in terms of those that do not drink or want to drink less.
Online Dating Advice For Women
Screening Profiles, Red Flags, Why Don't Guys Reply, Low-Effort Messages, Overwhelmed With Matches, Signs He's Not Interested, What Your Dating Photos Signal, Coffee Dates As First Dates? Lying About Age, Putting 'No Hook-ups' In Your Profile & More
Dating App Trends, Online Dating Trends
Unfortunately, some trends are becoming more and more common as message boards like Reddit are highlighting and encouraging bad behavior.
Hi/Hey
How Are You
How Is Your Day/Week/Weekend
Not on here much (IG/Snapchat/WhatsApp account)
AI Photos – this goes beyond filtered/photoshopped photos but completely digitally created photos using existing photos/headshots and making various photos out of them i.e. in a suit, at a bar, etc.
Chatbots – chatbots are being used to generate dating profiles and to communicate with matches on dating sites. Chatbots are becoming more and more popular and are replacing ghostwriters or professional dating profile writing services.
Fitness Dating Apps – this is something people are searching for but it is not needed if you learn to screen profiles on main apps and swipe left on profiles that don’t meet your interests. If you don’t have enough people in your area, exercise, eat well, make yourself more interesting/attractive, stop using apps or just move.
50+ Age Group – While this is the fastest growing demographic on dating apps, it is still a small segment (the growth rate focuses on % growth which calculated from a small starting base).
Related read: Decoding Dating Profiles
Using Dating Apps While Traveling, Bumble While Traveling, Hinge On Vacation
Thanks to WFH and also increase travel opportunities, people are using dating apps while traveling. Thanks to travel mode on Bumble as well as GPS based location functions, the goal for apps is inflate dating pool as much as possible. Thank you monetization and greed!
Dating App Hookup Culture, Online Dating Hook-Up Culture, Tinder Hookup Culture, Why Is Hookup Culture Normalized? Trends In Online Dating
Yes, some people use dating apps to date casually or hook-up event. Others use them for travel guides. A lot of people were lonely for 2-3 years during the pandemic. People have needs. Similarly, things like open-relationships, poly lifestyles and throuples have become mainstream.
Related read: Is Bumble A Hookup App?

Dating Profile Trends – Men; Bumble Dating Trends, Hinge Dating Trends
BJJ
Krav Maga
Work in tech
Entrepreneur
Whisk(e)y
Craft Beer
Mezcal
Boba
Down To Earth
Nice Guy
Sarcasm
Anime
Together we could ruin each other’s lives
Uber-rating
ENM / Open-Relationship / Ethically Non-Monogamous
Will not respond to hi/hey messages
My love language is Succession Quotes
Related read: Biggest Mistakes Guys Make On Dating Apps
Dating Coach Services
Photos, Profile Reviews, Navigating Apps, Image Consulting, Date Ideas, Where To Meet Singles, Offline Efforts, Communication/Social Skills, Screening Profiles, Reading People, Relocation Advice & More.
Ideal Clients: Women, Men, Gay & Straight Individuals Seeking Relationships
Dating Profile Trends – Women; Bumble Dating Trends, Hinge Dating Trends, Dating Website Trends
Spicy margaritas / spicy margs
Mezcal negroni
Espresso martinis
Casually looking for something serious
White Lotus them song
Fitted sheets / clean sheets
ENM (Ethically Non-Monagmous)
Partnered
Global Entry + Clear
# of Countries visited
No Trump supporters
No hookups
Can’t see likes so say hi
Dog & I are a package deal / dog-mama / fur-mama / must love dogs
Will stop to pet all dogs / will like your dog more than you
Good vibes only
My kid(s) mean the world to me / my kids come first
Resy reservations are my love language
Seeking +1 For Weddings
Looking to replace (x) as emergency contact
Related read: Biggest Mistakes Women Make On Dating Apps
Toxic Dating Culture, Dating Apps Are Toxic, Modern Dating Is Toxic, Online Dating Accountability, Dating App Accountability, Toxic Online Dating
Dating apps have made it easier to ghost people, harass men and women, target lonely folks, gaslight unsuspecting individuals and wreak havoc on mental health and safety. Anonymity on dating apps and ambiguous and non-existent reporting features make it hard for people to report others on dating apps.
If you suffer from low self-esteem, depression or loneliness, do not use dating apps. People lie about their intentions. People are too trusting on dating apps. Criminals prey on vulnerable communities rather easily by analyzing their profiles, photos, and outlook on life.
The types of toxic people on apps are:
-narcissists
-sociopaths
-catfisher – uses other people’s photos, uses AI generated photos, uses old photos, uses photos that were filtered/photoshopped or lies about their hair, height, appearance, hair or other feature.
-jekyll & hyde aka the nice guy – this person acts nice and then flips out when you cancel a date or don’t want to give out your number, leave a date early or don’t want to go on a second date
-depressed/crying/lonely
-negging/manipulators
-stalkers
-low-effort/submariners (these people come and go; hot and cold, make plans and then cancel)
Related read: Psychological Effects Of Dating Apps
Why Is Modern Dating So Hard? Is Dating Actually Harder Now? At What Age Does Dating Become Difficult? Why Is Dating So Hard For Men, Women?
There are many reasons why modern dating is so hard. Too many young guys use apps rather than meet women offline, in person. Men have smaller social circles than ever before. Men are also more comfortable being alone and are ok with chasing women out of their league rather than focus on women closer to their age.
More and more women are outpacing men in advance degrees and thus have more options. Women are also more likely to not get married or have kids on their own than put up with dirtbags. Too many young women date older men and set a trend that is hard to undo.
Similarly, too many people have become isolated, lonely and regressed in social skills. Cost of living (and dating has risen), and work-life balance is harder to achieve. The older you get, the easier or harder dating will be depending how much you work on yourself, how much you are able to dedicate towards dating. Some people become more confident, interesting, charming and marketable with age, while some become less desirable.
There are too many people who don’t know what they want out there, and not enough people report bad behavior/people to permanently kick people off apps. Apps need to do a better job of keeping people off apps that violate their TOS. People need to use apps sparingly rather than use them for all or even most of their dating effort.
Related read: Modern Dating Terms
About Eddie Hernandez
Eddie is a dating coach for men & women in San Francisco (clients in NYC, LA, Chicago, & beyond ), as seen in the NYT & Bumble). He has insight into algorithms as well as a keen understanding of dating cultures across locations, demographics, and orientations.
He helps with profiles, photos, wardrobe, messaging, date ideas, red flags, lifestyle choices, hobbies, grooming/hygiene, communication, social skills & where to meet singles. Whether you are a POC, short guy, introvert, engineer, or just struggling with dating, he can help you be efficient & strategic.
Modern Dating Rules, Modern Dating Scene, Traditional Dating vs Modern Dating