Relationships were never simple, but this has become more confusing and complicated in today’s digital and modern age. There has been a rise in many dating apps and sites in the recent past that has changed the way of finding and interacting with a partner. So, modern dating terms are very useful in understanding and building relationships in this digital world.
What are digital relationships?
The meaning of digital relationships is simple, and it lies in the word itself. Digital here refers to the technology-driven atmosphere we are surrounded by. So, when two individuals with/without knowing each other connect through any digital medium are called a digital relationship. In this era, digital relationship plays a significant role in building communication or connecting through social networking among people.
What is modern dating?
There was a time when a boy and a girl used to meet, they get a chance to know each other, then they used to fell in love and get married, and as everyone says, they lived happily ever after. Most of the people now are looking for an opposite of this traditional model where they are moving to dating apps. This makes them in finding their partner easily and results in instant pleasure or rejection (sometimes). They try to avoid the long process of following the traditional model of meeting each other, but they should follow some dating slangs and dating terms to make it successful.
How do you date in the digital age?
Technology has changed our lives in many ways, and relationships/dating is one of the examples of this innovation. Taking out the phone and finding a date has become easier and faster. The digital age is not limited to finding new people, but when couples are already in a relationship, they can utilize technology to keep in touch, which has become very easy. They can talk to each other through calls or messages. They can also share each other’s pictures and videos and even do a video call when they are feeling alone.
What are the modern rules of dating?
The foremost thing is that the dating profile has now become a lens through which people are exposed first so here are some rules people should follow. These can also be termed as modern relationship terms or modern dating terms.
- Honesty & Transparency
This is old but gold. One should be honest about his/her feelings and intentions. Even if the other person does not accept the way you are, you dress, you talk, you work, just be mindful not to change yourself.
- Good Sense of Humour
This is something that not only helps in a short-term relationships but in long term too. By making the other person feel comfortable, smiling and laughing may ease the tension and awkwardness that people generally feel during their first date. So, making a date entertaining and fun may give you a chance for a second date, which can further build strong relationships. But even if it does not go well, you will get a chance to laugh which is equally important.
- Confidence
This rule is very important, and this is not something that is inherited but is developed through self-exploration and individual skills. So, while talking on the phone or going out for a date, one should be confident.
- First 15 Minutes
There have been a lot of studies around this subject where relationship specialists claim that the first 15 minutes of a date is the time when people decide if there is any chemistry between themselves and are thinking of taking it to the next level.
- Introducing Friends
People also say that one should introduce his/her friends to the partner. Specialists say people these days follow this rule within the first month of their relationship.
- No Sex on First Date
People believe that most of the persons go out on a date just to have sex, but this is to be avoided on the first date to build relationships; otherwise, they might not be asked for the second date.
- Fitness
People have become health-centric now and want the same fitness level in their partners. So, it is very important to be in shape and have a good physique when approaching a partner.
What are the new online dating terms?
The first step for online dating is to learn its rules and vocabulary. Modern dating terms are very important to understand and build a relationship. Here is the modern dating lingo explained (a dating lingo guide).
Ghosting
This is one of the most popular dating slang words. You go out on a date, meet your partner, and have a great time. Texting and meeting each other keep happening for a few days and one day, you send a message or call your partner, but he/she does not respond. This goes on for days, turns into weeks, and then into months. Then, you realize that the relationship is over. Then, it takes a very long to get over this type of breakup, and people sometimes go into depression.
Orbiting
This is another ultimate dating lingo and is the next level of Ghosting, where your partner will ghost you but will keep continuing to stalk you on your social media account.
Benching
It is one more modern dating lingo. You are here kept as an option. Your partner will be busy doing his things and will keep you on the bench unless they find an actual relationship.
Cushioning
This is also known as an extra affair. You are dating someone, but your partner is already in a relationship. They are interested in you but do not plan to leave their current partner.
Pocketing
This dating lingo means when your partner has been with you in a relationship for a while, but they do not introduce you to their family and friends. This is also termed as internet dating slang.
Zombies
You took some time and came out of the trauma after a person ghosted you, but then they come back to you because they did not find a suitable or interesting partner for themselves. This is also one of the most famous modern dating terms in UK.
These were some modern dating terms, relationship terms, and meanings. Other than these, Bae, DTR, Bot, and Catfishing are also popular modern dating acronyms.
How dating became a market?
Thanks to the internet and dating apps, people are now finding their partners from their phones and computers. Online dating saves both time & energy, and people have shown great interest because they can easily search for and meet their partner of interest. Specialists claim that around half of relationships are happening through online dating. The dating apps provide free access to many features to find a partner, and there is no geographical boundary; for instance, a person residing in New Delhi can find and meet a person in Chandigarh. This has increased the craze of online dating.
Tinder reformed the online dating industry in 2013 with a simple formula to swipe right if you are interested. Though Tinder is not the first dating app, it has revolutionized the world in terms of online dating. The purpose of this app was to match a person with another person who has similar interests and is nearby. If the reports are to be believed, online dating is one of the most famous ways to find your partner in USA. Covid has also played a vital role here. People started spending most of their time in dating apps which has resulted an opportunity for businessmen to see dating apps as a booming market. But this has also formed a solid competition. Some of the top and most famous dating apps are Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, Plenty of Fish, Happn, Hinge, Okcupid, and Grindr.
According to research, the worldwide dating market size was about 7 billion US dollars in 2020 and is expected to grow at a faster rate in the coming years. The users of dating apps were around 180 million in 2015, but they touched around 320 million in 2021. The research claims that the revenue for dating apps will reach 4000 million US dollars by the end of 2022. These numbers clearly depict that the online dating industry will reach to a mammoth height in years to come.
Harsh truths about modern dating
As we have seen above, online dating can be confusing and complicating. People find themselves on top of the world when they are happy but fall to the ground too when they get alone. Let us look at some harsh truths about modern dating.
- Research says that people do not always swipe attentively and carefully. They come on dating apps just to pass their time, meet someone only once, and then call it over.
- It is a long process to find a suitable partner. People go out on different dates and engage in some long-term relationships too by living before deciding on their final partner.
- People are looking for partners who are like them in terms of religion, income, location, etc. Vegetarians prefer their partners to vegetarians, and athletes want to date athletes too. There was a saying, “Opposites attract,” but the study is yet to be done on the numbers on how successful the relationship is when people prefer their partners like them.
- People will leave you when you stop doing things they want. You should stop being perfect or a “yes” person every time. Ghosting is one of the realities here.
- Specialists say dating is not a place to know a person. There will always be a side that they will hide from you.
Conclusion
Older generations still find it hard to believe in building relationships through online dating; however, in this digital era, almost everything can be done online with the help of the internet, phone, and a computer. People these days are always short of time, making an offline date costlier, so they are moving towards online dating apps. They should be mindful of dating slang terms.
