Year Ender 2022: Biggest Dating Trends Of This Year

Let’s be real, 2021 wasn’t the return to IRL (in real life) we thought it would be. A mask was still your most steadfast accessory and you sought out vaccination appointments like concert tickets. The start of 2022, however, brought new excitement for getting back ‘out there’ with our collective resolve to make up for lost time during quarantine. Social activities like travel and live events rebounded in record fashion, and dating was no exception. Millions of young adults who started their dating journeys in lockdown, showed they were definitely out and ready to mingle IRL, and unlike previous generations, they were dating on their terms and were done playing games.

With 2022 drawing to a close, Tinder’s Year in Swipe report shares the top dating trends of the year.

Young singles are owning the situationship as a valid relationship status

Young singles were still down to play the field this year, but they opted for a high-quality roster where everyone was on the same page. More than a hookup, but not quite a traditional relationship, the “situationship,” a casual – yet clearly defined – relationship came to rise in 2022. Tinder saw a 49% increase in members adding the new relationship intention to their profiles and over one in 10 surveyed young singles said they prefer situationships as a way to develop a relationship with less pressure.

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The dinner date could soon be dead

It seems that the activities we took up during the innumerable lockdowns are here to stay. Mentions of picnics, stand ups, and coffee dates in Tinder India bios all increased this year; suggesting that singles are meeting for more than just dinner and drinks these days. They’re opting for less traditional, more authentic, and sometimes sober ways to get to know one another. Other creative activities like camping, BBQs, trying new things, and street food all made it into the top 10 trending global interests on Tinder.

More singles are raising a glass to sober dates

Alcohol-free dates have become a way for singles to be more authentic on dates and challenge traditional dating norms. Over 25% of surveyed young singles on Tinder said they drink less on dates compared with last year and 72% members said on their Tinder profiles that they don’t drink or only drink occasionally.

Stances on social issues could make or break a match

Three-quarters of the surveyed singles were looking for a match who is respectful of or invested in social issues. In fact, so many Indian Tinder members mentioned LGBTQIA+, the environment, mental health, Ukraine and feminism in their bios this year, that they all rank in the top five local issues. Additionally, the ‘Activism’ and ‘Voters Rights’ Interests both increased in Tinder profiles this year.

Revenge travel racked up the miles

After two pandemic-filled trips around the sun, singles were finally able to get back to exploring new horizons with fewer or no restrictions. The 18-25 year olds passported on average nine times a month with top foreign destinations for young singles in India included London, New York City, and Los Angeles. This year, Melbourne entered the top 10 Passport destinations for Indian members, knocking Moscow out of the top 10.

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Singles were looking to the stars for guidance

Star signs were the most popular type of descriptor added to Tinder bios behind smoking preferences, pets, and diet. Leos, Scorpios and Cancers were the signs most likely to include their sign in their bios, and surprisingly, all star signs were most likely to match with the exact same zodiac sign.