Even though the number of single adults started to decline for the first time in two decades, a lot of people still talk about the struggle of being chronically single. And it’s pretty obvious why. The modern dating scene is a battlefield full of failed talking stages, situationships, endless swiping, ghosting, and even breadcrumbing. Getting to the other side of it without major emotional damage is becoming almost impossible these days.
If the chill-inducing dating terms haven’t convinced you yet that romance has become pretty depressing nowadays, we invite you to take a peek at these conversations people overheard about dating from the ‘Overheard Dating’ Instagram page. They’re guaranteed to make you feel sorry for those who have to endure the search for a partner in these trying times. To find the juicy dating gossip, all you have to do is scroll down.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation with dating experts Kate Taylor, Jolene Beaton and Celine Ikeler from It’s Dating Explained and Paige Dempsey, who kindly agreed to talk with us more about the modern dating scene.
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Dating experts describe today’s dating scene as back-to-front, messy, but still exciting and full of possibilities.
“I meet a lot of singles who are very happy to have [intercourse] with someone they met that same day, but who’d die before they sent two texts in a row. Honestly, that’s not how we’re designed to date. Early [intercourse] makes relationships more complicated than they need to be because it’s very hard — for women especially — not to bond with a intimate partner,” dating coach Kate Taylor told Bored Panda.
“I wrote a whole book on this, called Not Tonight, Mr. Right. We like to think we can have fun, meaningless [intercourse] with anyone who catches our eye, but then we spend the whole of the next day preoccupied with whether or not we’ll hear from them again, even if we didn’t like them, or the [intercourse], that much.”
So the solution seems to be getting to know the person first before diving into bodily pleasures.
“We try to appear nonchalant and unbothered, which is SO hard when [intercourse] has caused every attachment hormone – like oxytocin and vasopressin—to flood your system with ‘Pick me! Love me!’ vibes. Postponing [intercourse] makes dating really simple,” Taylor explains.
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“In short, kind of a mess. But also kind of exciting,” says dating coach Paige Dempsey, describing the modern dating scene.
“People are growing tired of the dating apps and the old ways of dating aren’t working anymore. Women are getting smarter about what they are looking for in a partner and are no longer entertaining mediocrity or trying to ‘fix’ men.
They pay attention to red flags and exit potential relationships earlier that aren’t aligned with what they want. That means the dating cycles become shorter when you realize that the person isn’t going to be a good fit for you.”
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But the sister duo and dating experts Jolene Beaton and Celine Ikeler from It’s Dating Explained, remain helpful about modern romance.
“We think the dating landscape today is exciting and full of possibilities. People are investing in themselves more than ever, showing up with greater self-awareness and transparency about who they are and what they want. Across all ages, men and women are embracing confidence in the idea that they can meet someone and build a relationship with real potential to last!”
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We can always have hope, but reality is that a lot of people struggle with finding a compatible partner nowadays, and one of the reasons, according to experts, is the pool of options that is accessible to us.
“Dating apps give everyone a much bigger dating pool to fish from. But they can also make us less keen to commit, because we feel we’re always only one swipe away from finding someone 100x better,” Taylor says.
“I don’t feel humans are wired for that amount of choice. We’re designed to find a nice partner from a social group of around 150 people. This feeling of choice makes us more likely to ghost, breadcrumb, or micro cheat.”
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Another reason why many folks are chronically single may be because our lifestyles have drastically changed and it has yet to be reflected in the dating world.
“For most of history, women needed a partner to provide for them. Now, women are able to provide for themselves in a way that was never available before. So women are looking for a true ‘partner’, not just a ‘husband’, and sometimes those two outcomes can be different,” Dempsey explains.
“We’re also coming off the tail end of a pandemic. Life changed. People got comfortable working from home and being at home. Finding a partner starts with putting yourself out there, and that can be uncomfortable,” she notes.
“Getting to know a whole new person is a cycle that used to happen more organically – for example, through work, school or activities – and now it takes a real effort to get to know someone and people are tired of starting over and over again.”
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Experts also noticed that people don’t give enough of a chance to people, a mistake that is made by many.
“Many singles dismiss potential matches after just one meeting instead of going on a second date, where true compatibility often begins to show,” Beaton and Ikeler say.
“Dating online, they’ll often set really strict dealbreakers about things that don’t matter — like height, education, or eye colour. Lasting relationships are built on shared interests, mutual goals, kindness, honesty, and trust – not whether or not your partner can change a lightbulb without a ladder,” Taylor adds.
“So set one or two dealbreakers (I’d suggest location and age) but be willing to meet as many people as possible, even if they’re not your ‘type.’ Most people end up with a partner who’s very different from the sort of person they imagined settling down with, but who makes them the happiest they’ve ever been.”
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To make it easier to find lasting relationships, Taylor suggests making an effort to meet new people online and in real life.
“Dating apps are great for introducing you to new people, but don’t overlook the people who are around you every day. The more you practise chatting to new people, the easier it’ll get,” she says.
“Also, delay physical intimacy as long as you can, but definitely until you’re officially dating. Having intimate relationships before you know what someone is really looking for is the best way to avoid getting emotionally committed to a situationship.”
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Meanwhile, Beaton and Ikeler advise finding a support group of single friends.
“Get out there and have some fun with them. Everyone needs a good wingman. Get your mindset right so that you are in a good place and have the capacity to meet people. And then put some intention into your search.
And unfortunately, we hate to say it, but it may not happen naturally, you have to be proactive these days.”
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Lastly, Dempsey encourages the singles out there not to give up.
“You’re not too old. You’re not too whatever you think is holding you back from finding a relationship. You have to understand that a lot of people aren’t going to be the right fit for you – and that is okay. You want to be clear on what you’re looking for so you stand out and call in the right people. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, so you can find someone who is looking for someone like you,” she concludes.
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