Tawify Study: “Future Faking” Widespread in Online Dating

A new study by matchmaking service Tawkify reveals that “future faking” – making premature promises about a shared future to build emotional investment – is extremely common in modern dating. According to the survey of 1,023 singles, 92% of respondents have experienced future faking, though only 30% think that they have heard the term before.

Future talk often begins very early. More than half (55%) of singles heard long-term plans within the first three dates, with 17% encountering it before or during the first date. The most common phrases include referring to the pair as “we” or “us” (50%), long-term commitment talk (47%), and planning trips together (46%).

The consequences are significant. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of future-faked relationships collapsed within one month of the promises being made. Only 13% turned into stable relationships, and 38% ended through ghosting or a gradual fade rather than direct conversation. Tinder was the most commonly cited app for future faking (28%), followed by Bumble and Hinge (both 19%).

Women reported a heavier emotional impact than men. Sixty-eight percent of women said they trust new partners less after experiencing future faking, compared to 47% of men. Women were also more likely to view early future talk as a red flag (34% vs. 15% for men) and to stop dating for a period afterward (20% overall).

The study highlights how future faking contributes to broader dating fatigue and trust issues. Forty percent of singles admitted to using future-oriented language themselves before being fully committed to a relationship.