Dating in 2022 is not impossible, it is difficult for a lot of people, but it’s actually quite possible if you practice it the right way with the right information. The modern dating trends show that not many of us are indeed practicing healthy habits when it comes to dating, relationships, and romance. Fortunately, the dating trends show that a lot of people are doing their research, are practicing mindfulness, and are doing some good self-reflection. So, what is the new trend with dating? With a blurred line between toxic and healthy, here are 14 of the biggest dating trends in 2022!
1. Consciously Single
Choosing to be single and being mindful of the benefits of this status is what the dating trend Consciously Single is about. A survey made in 2018 showed that 72% of the surveyed people consciously chose to stay single. That was back in 2018, and the number keep rising in 2022. Being single in 2022 is a dating trend, and it’s a hot-hot one! It has become a trend due to the rise of self-awareness and mindfulness in people regarding their well-being and self-prioritization. Being consciously single is about choosing and deciding for yourself instead of letting the constructs and the pressure of society push you into decisions that don’t benefit you. To put it simply, instead of getting in a relationship with someone for the sake of constructs and pressure you choose to be single as it’s the best option for your well-being right now.
2. Hesidating
Dating while being unsure about exactly what you want or if dating is even the right choice you’re making is what the dating trend Hesidating represents. A lot of people have been reflecting on themselves during and after the pandemic. However, a lot of people started practicing Hesidating due to a long time of no physical contact with potential partners. If you’re taking it slow while dating and being unsure of what you want with the hopes that you’ll make up your mind along the way then you’re practicing one of the dating trends of 2022: You’re Hesidating.
3. Dry Dating
Dry Dating is a dating trend that stands for being sober and clear to be fully present with your date. Meaning no alcohol or drugs while you’re spending time together. This seems to be a dating trend on the rise recently due to people’s awareness of the downsides of a date you can’t remember (or a date you’ll never forget in a bad way). It’s a dating trend that allows you to be fully present and listen to your date instead of forgetting about it the next day or making a wrong decision under the influence.
4. Ghosting
Cutting off contact with a person without letting them know you are, and without letting them know of the reasons is what we call Ghosting. Putting it simply, ghosting is vanishing from a person’s life with no warning nor providing the person with reasons as to why you’re vanishing from their life. Ghosting has been a dating trend on the rise due to the use of online dating since the pandemic. The online dating world makes room for options and makes it easier to escape a situation you don’t want to be in. For some, ghosting is the easy way out of a relationship, a situationship, or even a connection that could be potentially romantic. This goes on the list of toxic dating trends since ghosting tends to have a tremendously negative effect on the ghosted one.
5. Power PDA
Embracing PDA at its fullest power and nature is essentially what the dating Power PDA stands for. If you’re the one who hates smooching sounds and visuals of couples hugging and getting really into the making-out session, you better brace yourself this summer because this is about to be one of the biggest dating trends in 2022! We’ve seen celebs such as Megan Fox and her partner Machine Gun Kelly practice this dating trend, Kortney Kardashian too, and a lot more. Power PDA is all about hugging, kissing, and touching in public without the fear of being judged and without the need to hold yourself back for the sake of other people around you.
6. Oystering
Oystering is a dating trend that conveys enjoying the single life and the opportunities of the dating world after a breakup. It’s more in terms of “The world is my oyster.” after leaving a relationship, especially a toxic relationship. Embracing the opportunities that the dating world is giving you at the moment after being in a relationship pretty much sums up the definition of Oystering. It’s a dating trend for a reason, makeups and breakups have been happening during the pandemic in a more dramatic dynamic. So, yes; Oystering is about being enthusiastic about dating, about being single and owning it after being in a relationship (optionally for a long time).
7. Slow-Dating
Taking the time to know the person you’re dating before taking any steps further with the connection is what the dating trend Slow-Dating is about. This is a dating trend that also stems a lot from the pandemic. Since it wasn’t very possible to get to the physical and relationship part right away, people took their time to text with one another and got to meet one another a bit more in the process. That practice has left a good impression on a lot of people who are practicing dating, and the people who are looking forward to meaningful connections.
8. Orbiting
Cutting off all contact with your ex while being very present on their social media is what the dating trend Orbiting stands for. It is yet another toxic trend due to the negative effect it has on the receiver. Orbiting means you’re telling your ex-partner that you won’t be contacting them, and you leave them confused while you passively let them know you’re checking their social media. This can leave your ex feeling confused and it can interrupt their process of moving on from the relationship. Despite its toxicity, Orbiting is a trend, at least in 2022, it’s one of the most popular ones.
9. Explori-Dating
Explori-Dating is essentially a mix of exploring and dating while merging both experiences into one. You’re essentially navigating the dating world after a while of not doing so through trying out new things, new ways of dating – essentially exploring what’s out there while being open-minded to new things and people (including genders). It has its benefits as a trend since it allows you to explore yourself through exploring new experiences and people. It’s about new practices of dating and its forms and seeing where you fit best.
10. Fast-Forwarding
Fast-Forwarding is a growing dating trend – especially in 2022 – which is being practiced by people by having a list of things they look for in a partner and checking if their date meets those expectations. This is yet another one of the biggest dating trends seen to be in 2022. Due to its benefits, this is no surprise! Practicing it can make you sort of blind to the rest of the good qualities a potential partner may have since you’re only focusing if they meet the expectations and the preferences you set for yourself. Checking if the date has all the green flags you’re looking for, is very healthy, but it’s even healthier if you keep your mind and heart open instead of having the main focus.
11. Breadcrumbing
The dating trend Breadcrumbing stands for keeping someone in the relationship or a connection without much effort by only giving them attention once they start distancing themselves. This is yet another toxic dating trend. A lot of people seem to be practicing it with or without knowing the consequences that this practice has on the ones being breadcrumbed. In other words, you’re giving just enough attention to someone to keep them hooked, there’s no consistency, you just keep them hooked with the smallest effort there could be made.
12. Fleabagging
Feabagging is a dating trend that represents continuously choosing the wrong people to date – a term heard in the TV series, Fleabag (by Phoebe Waller-Bridge). In other words, you’re dating the wrong people one after the other. As surprising as it may seem, continuously dating the wrong people is a trend in 2022. The reason behind this seems to be the need to date. A lot of people seem to fulfill that need with anyone who’s available without looking much further into it. Without a bit of analysis, it can easily go south, and you just end up dating the wrong person instead of the right one… for a considerable number of times.
13. Roaching
The new dating trend Roaching is sleeping or dating other people without telling your date about it. This usually happens at the early stages of dating when exclusivity isn’t discussed yet. However, Roaching is also done intentionally despite the conversation or the intention of exclusivity within the connection. Considering the toxicity of some other dating trends in 2022, Roaching falls into the mild-toxicity category of the dating trends.
14. Cookie-Jarring
Cookie-Jarring is having someone as a backup without telling them that you’re not planning to have anything with them anytime soon. This is actually one of the top toxic dating trends! You’re having a backup person for when you’re lonely and in need of admiration while making them believe they’ve got your attention for a solid second. You keep them around but without any other purpose besides having them as a backup person in case your other dates don’t go well. There’s no label on your relationship, this is more of a situationship if you will.
Other terms you’ve heard from dating trends during the years
For many years there have been dating trends and dating terms that are used to this day, and unfortunately, misused as well. For clarification, and a better understanding, here’s a list of some of the dating terms you may have heard recently: Vulturing – Making the most out of someone who’s in a fragile shape at the moment. Kittenfishing – Using pictures on dating apps that portray you a whole lot different than what you currently look like (e.g. using pictures from when you were younger). Cushioning – Being in a committed relationship and having other options while keeping them attracted to you through your entertainment for them. Slow Fade – Ending a relationship in a slow manner without letting the other partner know that ending the relationship is what you’re doing. Wokefishing – Pretending to be woke while also pretending to have the same political views as someone you’re trying to date with. Negging – Making another person believe that they’re inferior to your superior presence through making comments about their appearance or personality. Situationship – A connection in which exclusivity isn’t discussed and none of the partners know where the connection is heading – an unofficial relationship. Hard-ball – Directly let your date know what it is exactly that you expect from the connection with them or a connection in general (e.g a committed relationship). Pocketing – Keeping your partner a secret from your social circle (e.g. family or friends). Voicefishing – Pretending to have a certain voice or accent to seduce a potential partner. Benching – Keeping someone as a backup or as an option due to the insecurity and unclear vision of what you want from a connection with them. Breezing – Being straightforward about your intentions and expectations at the very beginning of the connection with a potential partner. Whelming – Arbitrarily letting a match on a dating app know how overwhelmed you are by the number of matches you have or the number of dates you’ve been on recently. Love-Bombing – Giving unmeant but special compliments to someone with the intention of getting their attention and flattering them. Scrooging – Dumping a person you’re dating right before Christmas to avoid buying or getting them a Christmas gift.
How do you date in 2022?
Dating in 2022 is indeed hard for many people. That is due to a lot of factors such as the high number of dating apps and their users, the pandemic, the sense of having too many options, social anxiety, etc. But for those that are dating… How are those people hooking up in 2022? Whether you’re single or dating, here’s how to date successfully in 2022:
- Moderately using dating apps. Excessive use of dating apps can be more destructive rather than it can be beneficial to you. The moderate use of dating apps with a neat profile while consciously swiping is the way to date in 2022. Moderately using dating apps, means you won’t be swiping right every single profile, and you won’t spend your entire time on those dating apps. Otherwise, you’ll be overwhelmed by the experience and the sense of options presented in those dating apps.
- Going out doing activities that involve other people. If you’re not into dating apps, you can go out and do activities that you love that include other people as well. This is a great way to meet someone who can match your vibe and energy.
- Having a sense of what you want. Despite the fact that it is a trend, Hesidating isn’t very healthy. Although it’s ok to not know exactly what and when you want it, it’s very important to at least have an idea of what you’re looking for in a connection before jumping into dating. This way you’ll save yourself and other people time, effort, and money.
- Exploring yourself through exploring people. Having an open mind while dating is yet another amazing way to date in 2022. Avoid putting everything into frames and have an open mind and approach to people. This way, you explore yourself while exploring people and the sides of you they bring out.
- Applying healthy practices to your ‘dating game’. Applying healthy practices means not playing games while you’re dating. Keeping your intentions genuine and taking care of yourself in the process is a hell of a great way to start applying healthy practices to your ways of dating. That way, you’ll start dating successfully in 2022! Best of luck, Callisto
