Bumble, the dating app where women make the first move, is today revealing how single people are expecting to date in 2022 and what challenges they face as we enter a new year under new social distancing restrictions. The trends show how the pandemic and 18-months of lockdowns has made daters reassess what they want and how they feel about themselves.
Lucille McCart, APAC Communications Director Bumble said, “The last two years have given people an enormous amount of time and space for self-reflection, and have been all about change and discovery. 2022 is going to be the year that we put this all into action – we’ve all changed since the start of the pandemic and are looking for different things, with an understanding that maybe the old system was broken and we can create our own path to finding what we are looking for. It’s time to throw out the rule book and start dating in a way that works for you.”
The 2022 Bumble dating trends include:
Explori-dating: Indicating that the pandemic has made daters rethink what they are looking for, almost half of the Bumble community (49 per cent) said they have reassessed what their “type” is recently, with just over a third (34 per cent) describing their dating style as exploratory.
Fast-forwarding: This trend sees daters looking for new qualities in their potential partner. The pandemic has defined the last two years, and many people feel different to how they did at the start. In fact, 29 per cent of Bumble users say the pandemic has drastically changed what they are looking for in a partner. In addition, three in five (57 per cent) are now prioritising emotional availability and a quarter (24 per cent) care less about a partners’ physical appearance.
Consciously single: We’ve all heard of ‘conscious uncoupling’, but 2022 is about finding that special someone, not settling for anyone. The pandemic has made almost half of Bumble users (47 per cent) understand that it is ok to be alone for a while. Looking ahead, people are consciously making a decision to be single, with many people (47 per cent) saying they will be more mindful and intentional in how, and when, they date.
Power PDA: Interestingly Bumble also predicts that in 2022, PDA will be back in a big way (and it won’t just be the Kardashians doing it). With vaccination rates increasing, more than two in three (65 per cent) of Bumble users are more open to public displays of affection post-pandemic.
“Many single Bumble users feel like they have been starved of IRL connections for a significant part of this year. You can sense the hope and excitement as things start to open up and the warmer weather arrives. Now is the time to remember that dating is meant to be fun and is about your personal journey. Want to dial up the PDA or date someone completely different to your usual ‘type’? Make the first move and go for it,” said McCart.
To download Bumble and explore love post lockdown, visit your app store or go to Bumble online.
