Plenty of Fish Shares Cringe Culture Insights

In the hyper-competitive world of dating, singles often worry that being themselves could be considered “cringe”. However a new study from Plenty of Fish has found that young people are embracing the cringe in order to find a meaningful relationship.

Plenty of Fish conducted a new study of single Gen Z and Millennial Americans, finding 74% agree that embracing their cringe will help them find their cringe counterpart.

The platform highlights that the younger generation is embracing authenticity, even at the risk of looking cringe in the eyes of society. 

47% of respondents consider themselves to be more cringe than cool, while 73% agree that being true to themselves is an important step in getting to know a potential partner. 

Seven in ten respondents said that they aren’t afraid to reveal things about themselves that might be considered cringe on a first date, with a similar number saying they’re open to matching with someone who is just as ‘cringey’ as they are on a dating app. 

“In a world where so many people feel pressure to present an ultra-manicured version of themselves, we applaud singles saying yes to being more real,“  said Eva Gallagher, Public Relations Manager at Plenty of Fish. 

“We’re all about encouraging people to show up as their true selves – especially when it comes to dating. Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way, so let’s embrace the real us – the wonderful, awkward and sometimes cringey parts that make each of us unique”, Gallagher explained.

Behaviours that are traditionally seen to be ‘cringey’ – talking about fandoms, being upfront about dating intentions, and not playing hard to get – are now seen as cool by many young singles, Plenty of Fish shared.

Plenty of Fish is a platform within Match Group, focusing on low-pressure and laid-back approaches to dating. You can find the platform’s full insights on cringe culture here.