OK guys - these past 12 months have been a rollercoaster of a ride for any singletons out there looking for love.
Now, anyone out there traversing the weird and wonderful dating scene will know that 2023 has been the year of submarining, bread-crumbing, getting 'zombied' and even the dreaded 'Ben stage'.
So, I'm sure we're all more than ready for the next batch of dating trends that are set to take over our love lives in the New Year.
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Well, luckily for you, the wait is over as one dating expert has predicted the five biggest dating trends to take over the world of romance in 2024.
Naomi Walkland, dating app Bumble’s Vice-President for Europe, said: "In 2023, we identified trends on love abroad, new boundaries, and a more open approach to typecasting. Intertwined with our dating lives, we saw societal conversations on misogyny, women’s rights, and social issues that left many exhausted.
"In our research, we’ve seen that these cultural conversations have impacted the way that people on Bumble are dating – empowering their sense of self and seeking people who value what’s also important to them, whether it’s social causes, lifestyles or just their favourite sports team."
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The expert went on to coin 2024 as the 'year of self', adding that people will be 'more empowered than ever' to prioritise what they value and what they will not stand for which will lead to 'a new clarity about what they want in their romantic lives'.
So, without further ado, let's get into the five biggest dating trends that will take over the 'year of self'.
Slow dating
Up first on the rundown is slow dating.
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In case you're unfamiliar with the phrase, slow dating is effectively exactly what it says on the tin: singletons taking the time to really get to know each other and build a connection before deciding if they want to take the relationship to the next step or meet in person.
Jemma Ahmed, head of insights at Bumble, explained: "People are starting to get to know themselves a lot more and as a result they’re taking the time to figure out who is and isn’t right for them."
She highlighted that by taking their time, daters are 'making deeper and more meaningful connections, and they're more willing to go beyond that surface level to really try and get to know someone'.
Emotional intimacy
The next thing we can look forward to next year is emotional intimacy with Bumble's sex and relationships expert, Shan Boodram saying: "It is exciting to see people continue to lean into self-acceptance and vulnerability as the foundation of healthy and equitable relationships.
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"When we are kinder to ourselves, we are able to make more meaningful, purposeful, and intentional connections both online and in real life."
Value-led dating
Third on the list is value-led dating which effectively sees daters seek out a partner who actively engages with politics and social causes.
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Bumble has also found that being passionate about political views makes someone more attractive to prospective love interests.
Cross-generational romance
The penultimate dating trend the experts predict we'll see taking over 2024 are cross-generational romances.
Bumble found that certain factors such as age have become less of a priority when it comes to people looking for their perfect partner.
One in three women revealed they've become less judgemental towards age gaps in the past year, with 59 per cent of women surveyed saying that they're open to dating someone younger than them.
Male vulnerability
And last but by no means least is male vulnerability.
C'mon now, we're nearly in 2024 and I'm sure we're all beyond fed-up with toxic masculinity and out-dated, traditional gender norms.
Linking to the emotional intimacy trend, Bumble found that women are now looking for men who are not afraid to show their authentic emotions with one in four men also stating in the survey that they have actively tried to become more vulnerable and open with people they are romantically linked with and there were some positive results.
One in four blokes found that this level of openness improved their mental health, with 32 percent saying that being open and vulnerable was the most important part of being in a relationship.
Well, I guess time will tell which - if not all - of these predicted dating trends will stick in 2024.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life
Rhiannon Ingle