Following in the footsteps of Spotify Wrapped, Tinder has released it’s Year in Swipe, which is a report that collates information from Tinder to determine what was popular this year.
Year in Swipe has determined that sneakers, sushi, and street food all ranked amongst the top ten fastest-growing interests with their users. It also determined that Los Angeles, New York City and London were amongst the most popular travel destinations for Tinder users.
However, aside from the superficial, Year in Swipe also determined that young singles are becoming more and more interested in situationships, are dating sober more often and consider similar views on social situations an important factor in whether the relationship will work long term.
Check out the complete list of the trends that have popped up in Tinder’s Year in Swipe.
#1. Young singles are owning the situationship as a valid relationship status.
#2. Positivity was a major plus. Originally known as the parking symbol, 🅿️has been repurposed to represent Pushin P and was the number one trending emoji globally on Tinder this year. An interesting shift from the trending emojis of years past ( 🤦in 2019, 🤷in 2020, and 👀in 2021), members turned to🅿️to let the world – and their matches know ‘positivity’ and keeping it real is exactly what they’re looking for.
#3. The dinner date could soon be dead as it appears that activities we took to during the pandemic are here to stay. Some of the top date activities mentioned in Aussie Tinder bios include walking, video games, gigs and festivals, 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.
#4. 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 per cent of surveyed young singles on Tinder said they drink less on dates compared with last year and 72 per cent of members said on their Tinder profiles that they don’t drink or only drink occasionally.
#5. Being funny, fresh, and forward was sexy AF. A sense of humour was what members looked for most when reading a potential match’s profile, and 73 per cent of young singles surveyed across all genders said they were looking for someone who is clear about what they want and has good hygiene.
#6. Stances on social issues could make or break a match. Three-quarters (75 per cent) of singles were looking for a match who is respectful of or invested in social issues. In fact, so many Australian Tinder members mentioned politics, the environment, mental health, Ukraine and BLM in their bios this year, that they all rank in the top five local issues.
#7. Nostalgia stanning was a flex. Young singles are getting inspo from 90s and noughties dating trends. It’s been a tough few years, and it looks like singles are turning to the authenticity and good vibes of a pre-smartphone world.
#8. The🚩(red flag) & 🌫️ (gaslighting) emojis were trending for good reason. Toxic relationships aren’t new, but all of the tips and psychoanalysis on social media show that young singles are more clued up about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to dating.
#9. Revenge travel — a slang term for travelling after a period of being unable to travel — racked up the miles on Tinder. After two pandemic-filled trips around the sun, singles were finally able to get back to exploring new horizons with fewer or no restrictions. 18-25-year-olds passported on average nine times a month with top passport destinations for Aussies including the US, the UK and New Zealand.
#10. Amidst uncertainty and triple mercury retrograde in 2022 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 the star signs were most likely to match with the exact same zodiac sign.
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