Poll reveals what dating trends in 2025 will look like including bonding over their dark sides

Singles are looking past their initial “icks” and bonding over shared “weirdness” and even their “dark sides,” according to a new dating survey.Riffing off social media fads, dating trends for 2025 are expected to include “yap-trapping,” “freak matching,” “grim keeping” and “st-ick-ing” around, according to an online poll conducted by dating app Plenty of Fish.The term “yapping” has made a comeback in the last year and refers to people talking incessantly, often about trivial topics.In the dating world, getting “yap-trapped” means stuck on a date with someone who does all the talking — and doesn’t ask their match a single personal question.

Nearly 50% of the 6,000 US-based respondents said they experienced this.One way to deal with a “yap-trapper” is to be direct and bring the conversation back to yourself, according to relationship expert Nicole Moore.“You can say something like, ‘You’re so good at sharing details about yourself and I love it.

… What would you like to know about me?'”Many of the chatters don’t realize they’re doing it and it could be a nervous habit, Moore noted.Thirty-nine percent of suitors reported “freak matching,” connecting with someone over shared quirks, eccentricities, unique interests or general “weirdness,” according to Plenty of Fish.That trend was likely influenced by the hit summer TikTok song “Nasty” by singer Tinache that asks, “Is somebody gonna match my freak?”A TikTok search of “freak matching” features couples sharing in weird acts like a man rubbing Rogaine on his partner’s bald spots, and a girl quizzing her boyfriend on how she can match his freak — to which he responded, “sleeping with no underwear on.”Rachel DeAlto, dating expert at Plenty of Fish, said the projected trends are about “embracing our individuality and authenticity.” “When we put less pressure on ourselves, dating becomes more about having fun and enjoying new experi...