2023 will be a year full of surprises for people who are looking to date and commit to serious relationships.
The traditional way of dating will see a number of twists and turns that will invite a lot of excitement into the dating game, especially in online dating.
Online dating has become the norm of new-age dating and people are becoming transparent about their needs and desires in a relationship.
People are adhering to their boundaries in order to keep their relationships healthy. People are becoming more focused on balancing relationships and career in a stable way so that neither suffers.
Bumble, the popular dating app revealed that a large percentage of people are very optimistic about finding love in 2023 and believe that emerging on the dating platform will help them find their one, true love.
2023 will also see the onset of many dating trends that will dominate the new year. These trends will open people up to new kinds of opportunities in relationships and help them see beyond traditional dating.
Let’s take a look at some of the dating trends that we should look out for in 2023.
1. Open Casting
People are now up for dating people beyond their ‘type.’ It’s time to do away with the tall, dark, and handsome requirements as the narrow search for physical ‘type’ is not serving anyone anymore. In fact, 63% of people are now more focused on emotional maturity than physical requirements.
2. Guard railing
With the return of office culture and busy social schedules, the majority of people are feeling overwhelmed right now. This has forced people to prioritise their boundaries and establish more boundaries over the last year. People are now being clearer about their emotional needs and boundaries. They are being more thoughtful and intentional about they present themselves. 53% of people also try to not over-commit themselves socially.
3. Love-life balance
There has been a shift in the way people think about and value their and their partner’s work. Gone are those days when job titles and demanding work days were seen as status symbols. People used to prioritise their work before but now, people are avoiding those who have a strenuous work life. 52% of people are actively creating more space for breaks to engage more in their personal life.
4. Wanderlove
People are now more open to travel and relationships with people who are not in their current city. Post-pandemic work-from-home flexibility has led people to explore the idea of being a ‘digital nomad’, opening up chances of how, where and who they date. Quite surprisingly, 12% of south Africans actually find it easier to date in another country!
5. Modern Masculinity
As south African society evolves, conversations about gender norms and expectations are coming to the forefront, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. Over the last year, men have examined their behaviour more than ever and have a clearer understanding of ‘toxic masculinity’ and what is not acceptable.47% of men on Bumble have indicated that they are actively challenging stereotypes that suggest that men should not show emotions, for fear of appearing weak. They now speak more openly about their emotions with their male friends, and more than half of Indian men agree that breaking gender roles in dating and relationships is beneficial for them too.
6. Dating Renaissance
People are not wasting time when it comes to committing to relationships. Many people who have ended relationships are looking to jump on the online dating bandwagon. 42% of South African have begun using dating apps for the first time, learning to navigate new dating languages and codes.
