From Simmer Dating to Blank Canvassing: New Gen Z Dating Trends Revealed
A new survey released by India’s largest dating app, QuackQuack, has revealed new dating patterns and trends for Gen Z daters.
The online poll spoke to more than 11,000 daters between the ages of 18 and 26, in professions ranging from students to IT professionals and engineers, healthcare and finance professionals, content creators, teachers and sales experts. The research highlighted key influences by Gen Z users on the dating landscape.
The emerging Gen Z dating trends identified in the QuackQuack poll included:
Simmer dating
47% of GenZ daters disclosed that they prefer taking a slow-paced approach, calling it “simmer dating,” instead of the previously famous rapid-fire matching and quick meetups. This trend focuses on gradual build-up and emphasises patience while finding a partner. The trend supports other research in online dating that suggests users are moving away from instant chemistry in favour of more meaningful connections. Four of out five of those polled believed relationships that grew organically over time tended to be more lasting and meaningful.
Blank Canvassing
Another notable Gen Z dating trend suggests daters are putting their own mental health front and centre. Making considerable noise in the dating world, ‘Blank Canvassing’ sees daters reflect on their past relationships, assess how they affected their mental health, and take the time to ensure they are ready for another relationship. 35% of women surveyed said the approach focused more on their own personal wellbeing than a rush to find love. The term ‘blank canvas’ comes from letting go of any baggage through the reflection process and starting over with a fresh mindset.
Digital Courtship
Gen Z is bringing back courting in modern dating. 29% of daters between 18 and 26 were shown to be in favour of digital courtship, allowing matches to woo and impress them for an extended time online, before jumping into a meetup. Key to the trend is a prerequisite that daters court only one match at a time, particularly from those seeking a more serious relationship.
Speaking about the emerging trends, QuackQauck’s Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, “Gen Z has been making waves in the dating world for quite some time now. We have a large portion of Gen Z users and almost regularly we observe them dating quite differently from their predecessors. For instance, Gen Z is not afraid to pick themselves, they are more thorough and slow, and they are very much focused on mental health; they would drop a relationship any day if that happens to affect their mental health. These trends might look drastic but they are equally important for a healthy dating life.”
