The past few years have thrown up a dictionary’s worth of new concepts in dating: Ghosting, benching, love-bombing, orbiting, flags of every colour, various carb-themed ways to treat someone terribly (breadcrumbing, cookie-jarring et al.)
The fundamental desire to love and be loved hasn’t really changed, but we’ve hurtled into a brave new world when it comes to finding it, exemplified by that viral graph of how couples meet, the line shifting dramatically from “met through friends” to “online” over 80 years.
In 2025, yet more new behaviours and ideas will shape the quest for love: some fresh buzzwords, a post-pandemic vibe shift. But — spoiler alert — people still just want to be treated well by someone nice and not weird.
Here are expert predictions for the 2025 dating trends.
1. The rise of “micromance”
Grand gestures and splashy dates are so 2024. A trend that sexologist and Bumble sex and relationships expert Shan Boodram has her eye on is “micromance,” essentially the little things someone does to show that they’ve been thinking about you, that they’re paying attention. “It’s about showcasing that you want something meaningful,” she said. For instance: Giving your date a book that you love and think they will too, complete with notes you’ve taken and favourite passages highlighted.
2. Getting off the relationship escalator
Three in four Canadian singles say they want to find a long-term relationship in the next year, according to Bumble. But they’re less worried about the labels. For instance, Boodram’s seeing much less interest in the “relationship escalator”: the idea that like levels of a video game, dating must follow a set of proscribed milestones, like moving in together, marriage etc.
“They’re prioritizing, ‘Can I meet somebody who meets my standards, and meets where I am now, with all the work that I’ve put into myself? And then from there, we’ll set the next milestone as we hit the first one,” Boodram said. “Before, people were often four steps ahead of where they were at and looking for anybody who’s willing to fill the role.”
As well, there’s a shift from a “to have” list to a “to feel” list, Boodram says. “You know, ‘They have to make this much money, be this old, be this tall,’” she said. “Instead, it’s ‘How do I want to feel when I’m with this person? I want to feel smart, interesting, cared for, seen.’”
3. Older daters are embracing the apps
From divorced Millennials to Boomer widowers who last dated before cellphones were invented, there’s a growing cohort of older daters who are enjoying online dating. They recognize the advantages that have come with dating apps, like the convenience of making connections in the spare five minutes you might have as a single parent, or the wider pool of candidates in your age group.
“When you’re older, you’re very confident and you know what you want. Tinder is a great way to be able to advertise that and sort through who is matching that much more quickly than bumping into somebody in the theoretical grocery store,” said Stephanie Danzi, who met her husband on Tinder and is global head of marketing for the app. “We see a trend with Gen Z where they’re nostalgic for this ‘meet cute’ that never existed. You know, ‘I’m going to go to the grocery store and touch hands with my soulmate while reaching for a perfectly ripe avocado. Millennials and Gen X know that didn’t happen.”
4. Being super specific about what you want
In previous years, the uncertainty of the pandemic translated into a “who even knows” approach to dating, like situationships, or dating without being attached to traditional outcomes.
“That’s really on its way out. People are done with the mixed signals, with the guesswork, and they’re embracing a much more unapologetic approach to what they want,” said Danzi. She ties this trend to a rise in therapy culture. “It’s a chaotic world, and people want to control what they can control.”
Fun fact: the number one phrase in Tinder bios last year was “looking for…” In Canada specifically, the word “deserve” saw the fastest growth, up by over 100 per cent year-over-year. “That tells me people know what kind of connection they are worthy of, and they are loudly looking for it,” said Danzi.
5. Out with dating clichés
A recent eHarmony survey of Canadian singles spanning generations showed a widespread rejection of long-held clichés. Only 35 per cent said they believe in the old adage “you’ll just know when you’ve met The One.” The old chestnut “opposites attract” was equally out of favour, with just 27 per cent co-signing. And only 40 per cent of Canadian daters subscribed to “once a cheater, always a cheater” — a fascinating result, particularly in the age of viral TikToks documenting the antics of unfaithful men.
Ditto ye olde dating norms. Sex on the first date is no longer taboo, with only 32 per cent of daters saying they’d never do it. And not responding too quickly to a message lest you appear desperate is out. In fact, today’s daters think there’s nothing hotter than a prompt replier: 68 per cent have a “no wait protocol” if someone they’re dating texts them.
6. A desire for deeper connections
Modern daters are looking for matches that align with both their quirks and their core values. “People are getting to know themselves better and better,” said Danzi. “That makes you a better partner, if you can come to the table self-aware and empathetic, and it’s easier to find someone who can meet you there.”
Call it the joy of beige flags, but daters are also looking more for trustworthiness over attraction. “People want to feel safe, and a great way to feel safe is in a loving, trusting relationship,” Danzi said. This could also be tied into our current loneliness epidemic. “A close connection can be transformative, so it makes sense to me that people are looking for something they can trust.”
7. The friend effect
Particularly among Gen Z, friends are becoming “the MVPs” of figuring out who to get involved with, said Danzi. But rather than dissecting your dates over brunch a la “Sex and the City,” the Miranda to your Carrie is more likely to be there for you by social media — stalking any potential suitors. “Twenty per cent of Gen Z ask their friends to do a social media deep-dive, so they’re really trusting them to do the work ahead of the time to know if they’re going to be compatible,” said Danzi.
8. Higher standards
What surprised Boodram about this year’s Bumble forecast was just how uncompromising daters have become — in a good way.
“It’s the general trend of, ‘I’m not lowering my standards, I believe that what I want is out there, and I’m willing to stick to that even if it seems impossible,” said Boodram. “Then, it was all about, ‘let’s explore, let’s be open, let’s travel.’ Last year was the ‘year of the self,’ and I love that people are coming out of that now and saying, ‘I’m not experimenting, I’m not giving everybody a shot anymore.’ I know what works for me.’” That optimism is noteworthy, she adds, given the recent “anti-dating sentiment.”
Boodram also pointed to the rise of popular TikTok videos that chronicle “real people” going on dates. “I really like the trend of people using other people’s honest content as inspiration,” she said. “Authentic doesn’t necessarily mean positive, but it doesn’t mean negative either. It just means people feeling less alone. This journey can be trying, so it can be nice to know you’re in community like that with other people.”
