Cuffing season is in full swing and 2025 is within kissing distance. But, what will the new year bring for our love lives?
Dating app Hinge is encouraging daters to adopt a concept they’re calling “Dating Forward”. The concept essentially centres around being intentional and thoughtful in your dating behaviour, avoiding amassing dating matches without talking to them, and instead taking time to read people’s profiles and engage with the content.
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So, how exactly do we “date forward”? Hinge’s director of relationship science Logan Ury says it’s all about prioritising quality over quantity.
According to a new survey by the company, 47 percent of Hinge daters say that going on more dates is their top dating goal for 2025. But, as anyone who’s been on a dating app lately will know, the real challenge lies in turning matches into conversations, then converting those chats into real-life dates. That’s not even mentioning the journey that ensues once you’ve connected IRL.
Hinge’s five tips for dating forward in 2025
Focus on the present
73 percent of Hinge daters admit to overthinking past dating experiences. Hinge wants daters to refocus their attention to present and future dating experiences.
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Set yourself dating goals
When you’re spending a decent chunk of time on the apps, it’s useful to think about what you want to get out of that. 42 percent of Hinge daters say they need to set clearer intentions for what they’re looking for.
Prioritise quality matches over quantity
Stop racking up matches with no intention of talking to people. Instead, try slowing things down and evaluating each match before turning back to scrolling through profiles. Hinge introduced Your Turn Limits in 2024 to cap the number of unanswered messages in a bid to beat dating fatigue. If you have too many pending replies, the feature will ask you to respond to or end those conversations before connecting with new people.
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Meet ASAP
Many of us know how it feels to get stuck in a pen pal situationship with someone who has no intention of meeting you in person. Chat to someone too long and you can quickly lose interest in meeting up. Hinge research has found that three days of chatting is the “sweet spot to ask someone out.”
Plan activity-based dates
Gone are the days of boring dates that feel like job interviews. Why not plan a date around an activity you find fulfilling? If the date goes well: great. But if it doesn’t: you still had fun and got to do an enjoyable activity. 31 percent of Hinge daters think that planning dates that centre around activities they like would help them stay focused on dating. You could try going to museums, art classes, or an event where you try your hand at a new skill.
Go forth and date forward.