What Does Dating Look Like in 2025? Well, These Relationship Trends Will Certainly Light Up Your Group Chat

As someone in a long-term relationship, I often wonder what people mean when they mention Gen Z and millennial dating trends through terms like "paperclipping," "penny dating" and "submarining." I've just gotten my bearings straight when suddenly there's a slew of new terms to add to my lexicon.

To unearth the latest, we spoke to dating experts to discover the relationship trends that will skyrocket in 2025. (Including some that will hopefully be kicked to the curb… *ahem* superficial "icks.") Whether you're single, in a new relationship or you've been dating for years, you'll likely find something relevant to you or your group chat.

In this article:

• Dating Trends for Singles and New Relationships
• Dating Trends for Committed Relationships

Dating Trends for Singles and New Relationships

If you've been on a string of first, second and third dates but nothing has worked out or you've made it past the "talking stage" and are basking in the glow of the "honeymoon stage," these 2025 dating trends may be relevant to your love life.

Intentional Dating

"Intentional dating" is a new term, but it's not a new practice. If you reflected on the values and characteristics you'd like your partner to have and look for people who meet and exceed your expectations, you've been dating intentionally all along.

In 2025, you might start seeing "dating intentionally" or "intentional dating" as you're scrolling people's dating app profiles. Ilana Dunn, a dating coach and host of the podcast Seeing Other People, shared how it can help you find love faster. "With so many options available through dating apps, it's easy to get lost in endless swiping without any real direction. Now, more individuals are dating with purpose by being clear about what they want and setting expectations early on," Dunn says. "This shift is driven by a desire for deeper, more meaningful connections and the need to ensure compatibility right from the start. It's about cutting through the noise, avoiding uncertainty, and focusing on relationships that align with your values and goals."

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Future-Proofing

So, how do you find out if someone is compatible? You ask. Bumble found that daters will be asking important questions to sus out long-term compatibility earlier in the dating process.

"Future-proofing ensures that your potential partner aligns with your values, encouraging daters to ask all the important questions. This can include questions like: How do they approach their finances? What are their career goals?" says Bumble's sex and relationship expert Shan Boodram. "Proofing for the future increases the potential for a long-lasting and secure relationship, which is more important to daters than ever before!"

Yap-Trapping

Have you ever been on a date with someone who spends the *entire* time talking about themselves and doesn't let you get a word in edgewise? You've experienced "yap-trapping," and you're not alone. Nearly 50% of people have been on a date with someone who droned on without asking any personal questions, according to Plenty of Fish's survey of almost 6,000 members nationwide.

"The Yap-Trapping trend indicates that better communication etiquette is needed in the dating world. Daters are aware of others' over-communication, however, they may not be self-aware of their own monopolization of a conversation," says the site's dating expert Rachel DeAlto. If you're on a date with a "yap-trapper," she recommends politely interjecting and saying something like, "I'd love to share my experience with you." You might find out they just had the first-date jitters and that helps them remember that it's a convo, not a monologue.

Freak Matching

If you've listened to Tinashe's v catchy song, "Nasty," you're familiar with the dating term "match my freak." This Gen Z slang rose in popularity when it became a viral TikTok sound. Plenty of Fish found that 39% of daters are "freak matching," meaning they are looking for a partner with "shared quirks" and "unique interests." "'Freak matching' signifies a move towards embracing our authentic selves and individuality. It shows we are connecting on a deeper level, where shared quirks can lead to stronger bonds," says DeAlto.

Similarly, Bumble surveyed more than 40,000 millennial and Gen Z women and found that nearly 46% said that "unique and quirky interests" make someone more attractive. Half said that enjoying interests together is a "form of intimacy." That might be why so many couples meet through run clubs, adult sports leagues and fandoms.

StICKing

Here's some good news: 36% of daters told Plenty of Fish they won't run from the "ick" in 2025. As Joanne from Nobody Wants This realized, wearing a sports coat over a hoodie doesn't have to be a dealbreaker.

DeAlto says that "StICKing" is one of her favorite 2025 dating trends. "It shows that we are becoming more open-minded and focused on long-term compatibility versus superficial issues," she says. "So many daters get in the way of their own potential success by focusing on minor 'icks' that don't truly impact a great relationship."

Date With Me (DWM)

Have you seen dating GRWM videos, detailed date recaps, dating profile reviews and "Dating Wrapped" presentations on your feed? You're definitely not the only one. "Date With Me describes the trend that we've been seeing where people across social media platforms are sharing their dating experiences online," says Boodram. If you need a break from doom-scrolling, you might find these "dating diaries" uplifting. More than 40% of daters told Bumble the videos make them feel "less self-conscious and lonely."

Dating Trends for Committed Relationships

From engagement soft launches to "holding space," here are some relationship trends that will be popular in 2025. (Psst: You might want to start implementing the "2-2-2 relationship rule" and "relationship check-ins" ASAP.)

The Engagement Soft Launch

We predict that 2025 is the year of the engagement "soft launch." Think Zendaya showing up to the Golden Globes with a ring on *that* finger or Dua Lipa and Chloë Grace Moretz subtly including an Instagram photo dump pic with a sparkler on their ring finger. This year, you might see more couples taking time to enjoy their "engagement era" privately before making it IG official. The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno took it one step further and hard-launched his marriage.

Holding Space

Did you see the viral Wicked interview where Out magazine journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo people are "holding space" for "Defying Gravity"? Their reaction and Grande's unique way of grasping Erivo's finger (IYKYK) became a meme, but you might not know that it's a popular psychology term that can help your relationship flourish. According to Psychology Today, you can hold space by being non-judgmental, listening actively and being empathetic without trying to offer a solution. After all, sometimes your partner just wants to vent.

The 2-2-2 Relationship Rule

If your partner's love language is "quality time," they'll love the "2-2-2 relationship rule." Dunn explains that it encourages couples to go on a date every two weeks, take a weekend trip every two months and go on a longer romantic vaca every two years. "The idea is to carve out intentional time for connection amidst life's demands, like kids, careers or just the day-to-day grind. It's a gentle reminder that dating your partner doesn't end once you're in a committed relationship – it evolves," she says.

Relationship Check-In

You can think of a "relationship check-in" as a checkup for your relationship. It gives you time to connect on topics that matter to you. You might want to cover finances, balancing household chores and responsibilities, parenting, goals, ways to support each other and anything you'd like to work on. Choose a cadence that works for you. It's a good way to make sure you're on the same page. Wondering what to ask? Check out these 20 relationship check-in questions for productive daily, weekly and monthly convos.

Micro-mance

Big romantic gestures aren't the only way to show you care. Bumble found that 86% of daters said people can show love and affection through small but mighty gestures like "sending memes, a playlist, or sharing inside jokes or morning coffee walks."

"Grand romantic gestures are definitely still appreciated, but it's also nice to do little things for your partner that show you care on the day-to-day. It's clear showing affection day-to-day can make a big difference," explains Boodram. If you're in an LTR, "micro-mance" could mean planning an impromptu date night, leaving a love note by the coffee machine or bringing home their favorite dessert.