In Toronto, dating can be difficult. From failed talking stages to the “‘are we dating the same guy?”’ forum groups, the process of finding the love of your life can be a sticky situation. But the woes of relationships could begin to shift next year.
2025 is expected to be a transitional year for dating, according to Bumble. Here’s what a Toronto-raised relationship expert has to say about the online dating app’s latest hot takes.
Bumble’s Sex and Relationships Expert Shan Boodram had troubles of her own navigating dating in the city long before settling down in Los Angeles, California with her husband, singer Jared Brady. She described her experiences in trying to find love in Toronto as “negative,” recalling swinging between constant feelings of distrust, detachment and avoidance in her past relationships. Even when she returns to Toronto, she notices that many of the people she used to date are still single today. But while she acknowledges that dating in a major city can be a struggle, she reminds singles that not all hope is lost.
“Toronto, similar to LA, is a transient city where people from different parts of Canada are coming to, and they’re usually coming for a different objective other than love. They’re coming there for work reasons. They’re coming there to try to start a business. So, for them, the primary goal isn’t to find a long-term romantic partner,” Boodram explained to Now Toronto.
“But people are still finding love. People are still getting married. So, at the end of the day, even though the landscape can be difficult for some, there are others who are making it work and finding a person, which I think just gives all of us the right to have hope.”
BUMBLE’S HOT TAKES FOR GREAT DATES
Women-first dating app Bumble recently released an annual report which includes trend insights on the state of dating from more than 40,000 Gen Z and Millennial app members. In its research, Bumble came to the conclusion that the approach to relationships is evolving with singles opting for low-tolerance dating, a phenomenon that outlines women’s clear expectations and what they are no longer willing to put up with in a relationship.
Micro-mance is one of Bumble’s hot takes that’s making a big deal despite what its name suggests. The term describes singles expressing their feelings through smaller gestures leading to a massive impact. In fact, the dating app reports that 86 per cent of singles agree that how we show love now includes simple behaviours,such as sending memes and playlists, or sharing inside jokes. Boodram says the rise in this action can partly be attributed to those who claim that romance may not be affordable for them, but assures singles that money isn’t necessarily required for a heartfelt time.
“Of course people would love to go to a nice restaurant, or they would love the grand gestures, they would love to be picked up. But above all else, it’s really just acknowledging like, ‘Hey, I’m a person giving you my time. We both said yes to this. We both at least agreed we were attracted to each other. So, I want to see some semblance of an action that represents the fondness that you feel for me,’” she said.
“It shows the person has a fond feeling towards you, and they put some kind of action behind it… You don’t have to break the bank, but you do have to be thoughtful.”
Date With Me is another hot take taking the online world by a storm, Bumble reports. Things involving this phenomenon might include “get ready with me” for dating videos, live-streamed break-ups, and post-date debriefs. The dating app predicts that this kind of content will grow even more relevant in the next year, as about 42 per cent of Canadian singles are celebrating more authentic dating content that shows not only the highs, but also the lows of relationships. Bumble also shared that 44 per cent of women are also feeling less self-conscious and lonely as a result of these transparent, shared dating experiences.
“It just helps us feel like we’re not alone. It gives us some context for the broader culture, and it allows us to have more grace for self and maybe more grace for the experience overall,” Boodram said.
“I think people being honest about what they’re experiencing in the dating world, be that good or bad, with the positive slant that they’re still in it trying, I mean to me, that’s a positive thing… I think people empowering each other to stay in this, people empowering each other to raise their standards makes it a better dating landscape for everybody overall, regardless of what your results are.”
Another hot take Bumble presented is the idea of future-proofing, which involves singles looking at the uncertainty of the future and desiring to align themselves with someone who can offer some sort of stability. According to the dating app’s research, 62 per cent of women in Canada are looking for a partner who is emotionally consistent, reliable and has clear goals when it comes to their life. Looking into the next year, singles can expect more of these conversations as soon as the first date, as more than one in three Canadian women are pushing topics on budgeting, housing, climate change and job ambitions much earlier.
“There could be a lot of really big changes, unprecedented changes, that are going to happen in a short amount of time. I think people are feeling that sense, and so they’re not looking at it like I have time to waste anymore,” Boodram explained.
“I think future-proofing essentially means that you don’t have to go on every date and make sure that person wants to be married with four kids and a picket fence… You don’t need to check all those boxes, but you do want to have a sense that that person is open to the vision of your future that you hold dear to your heart.”
Other Bumble dating trends included On the Same (Fan) Page; where singles are intentionally seeking out people with niche interests or a part of similar micro-communities, Male-Casting; a dive into male archetypes and how stereotypes against men affect relationships, and Guys That Get It; where women are feeling much more comfortable with sharing their dating experiences amongst their platonic male friends.
WHAT CAN SINGLES EXPECT NEXT YEAR?
Boodram predicts that the transition singles are about to see in the dating world in 2025 is a complete transformation of clarity, confidence and ultimately, women taking control of their own desires.
“Regardless of how hard dating has been, regardless of how unsuccessful you’ve been in the past… You still know in your heart of hearts that what you want is actually out there, and there aren’t major shifts that you have to do for yourself. You’ve already done that work, or that you’re committed to doing that work long term. And so that’s not the factor. You’re no longer auditioning for your happily ever after. You’re expecting it.”
