What will dating look like in 2025? Here are Bumble’s predictions
From the murkiness of situationships to the dystopia of having a “roster,” it seems that the current dating scene continuously grows into a toxic wasteland where our dream relationships go to die. What happened to the kundiman and harana of our history, or the love teams of recent memory? In the words of one online meme, “We used to be a proper country.”
One can’t help but wonder: Will things ever get better? Well, women-first dating app Bumble has crunched the numbers, and the answer seems to be a comforting “yes.”
In its research with more than 40,000 Gen Z and millennial users globally, Bumble expects 2025 to be about transparency, authenticity, and advocating for ourselves. After a year of no labels and skirting through “icks,” 64% of women are now being more honest with themselves and no longer making compromises.
While dating apps can get a bad rap, 94% of Filipinos on Bumble recalled good experiences, from the excitement of meeting someone new to building their confidence. Globally, 72% of single people remain determined to find a long-term partner by 2025.
Here are 6 trends that will define the next year, according to Bumble’s users.
Smaller gestures, bigger impact
Bumble’s research found that over half of Filipino women are self-proclaimed romantics–this is nothing new. What’s different is how we embrace that romance: through “micro-mance,” or smaller gestures. 97% of Filipino singles agree that we now express affection through behaviors like sending memes, making playlists, or remembering what our partners like. On social platforms like TikTok, young users proclaim “To be loved is to be known,” declaring that the most potent act of love you can do is to simply know and understand your significant other.
#RelationshipGoals get real
As young people increasingly become averse to overly-curated, inauthentic social media content, love and relationship content transforms to reflect their beliefs. We now get to see not just the highs but the lows. At the end of last year, thousands of people posted videos of their “Dating Wrapped,” recounting the good and bad dates they went on. Seeing more realistic depictions of dating online has led 56% of Filipino singles to feel optimistic about their love lives, while it has helped 44% of Filipino women feel less conscious and lonely. When we see that dating isn’t always picture-perfect, it can make us feel more open to talking about our own experiences and help others spot potential red flags.
On the same (fan) page
Hold on to your Strava accounts and Taylor Swift friendship bracelets—52% of Gen Z singles say that sharing interests is a form of intimacy, while 56% say that unique interests are now key to attraction. With the popularity of anik-anik, it’s not surprising to see interests and self-expression play a bigger role in how we swipe on potential partners.
What’s your type(cast)?
Were you part of rat boy summer or were you looking for a man in finance? These male archetypes exploded in pop culture this year, and much like the experience of women, 29% of Filipino men say these tropes can create false assumptions about their character and intentions. What we hope to take away, however, is that there is no singular way to define masculinity. In fact, 61% of Filipino women agree that we must change how we talk about masculinity so men can define it for themselves.
Future-proofing
The future is uncertain, and it seems we want our dating life to be one less thing we have to be anxious about. 65% of Filipino women have growing concerns about the future, leading them to put a premium on stability. Now more than ever, they are looking for a partner who is emotionally consistent, reliable, and has clear life goals. As such, we are now also having big conversations earlier in the relationship, with 27% of women worldwide pushing for honest talks on budgeting, climate change, and job ambitions.
The guys that get it, get it
When in need of dating advice, there is a common helpline that many Filipino women call: the guy best friend. Bumble found that 35% of Filipino women ask their male friends to filter potential dates, and 58% ask male friends to explain other men’s confusing dating behavior. Globally, 31% of single women are being more open with their male friends as well, making these friends a significant part of their support system.
