Plenty of Fish's Eighth Annual Dating Trends Revealed: Expect Singles to be "Smutten" and "Freak Matching"

New Terms Reflect TikTok and Pop Culture's Impact on Dating in 2025

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dating app Plenty of Fish today revealed its eighth annual list of dating trends, providing singles with new lingo to describe their evolving dating experiences. Following 2024's 'Rizz-Colored Glasses' and 'Canon-Bailing,' this year's list introduces the latest trends poised to shape the dating landscape, and will join Plenty of Fish's existing index of over 60 dating behaviors.

Plenty of Fish surveyed nearly 6,000 U.S. members, and found that TikTok and social media continue to heavily influence our cultural zeitgeist. Smut is having its moment both on-screen and in written word (ahem, a certain gossipy, Regency-era binger might ring some bells?)––leaving singles fantasizing about their own dating lives and "Smutten" with a potential match. Meanwhile, "Yap-Trapping" has plagued half of daters, who found themselves struggling to get a word in edgewise with chatty companions who dominate the discussion.

2025 Dating Trends include:

• Smutten (smuh-tin): When singles fantasize about the storylines of romantic TV shows, movies, or books becoming their reality. 33% of singles have fantasized about these ideals; even higher for women at 40% vs. 28% of men. Well-written romance novels and steamy shows are all the rage right now. People are craving escapism, but also, the characters can be decent models for partners. And who doesn't love the popular tropes often portrayed - friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, forbidden love!
• Freak Matching (frēk ma-ching): Connecting with someone over shared quirks, eccentricities, unique interests, or general "weirdness" – which 39% of singles have experienced. How does that song go? 'If you keep up with me, I'll keep on coming back.' Thanks, Tinashe, for addressing the fact that we're all just looking for somebody that's going to match our freak.
• Yap-Trapping (yap-trap-ping): We're not here to call out the yappers. We're referring to when someone only talks about themselves, and doesn't make the effort to balance the give-and-take in a conversation—completely inun-dating their partners (pun intended!). In fact, almost half (49%) of singles have been on a date or dated someone who never asked them any personal questions.
• StICKing (stik-ing): Looking past an initial "ick" and pursuing someone romantically despite any superficial oddities (e.g. style of dress, hairstyle, etc.) when you wouldn't normally. Viewing "icks" as total deal breakers is so last year. 36% of daters have chosen to stICK instead of running from the ick––hello, emotional maturity!
• Grim Keeping (grim kēp-ing): Bonding with someone over your "darker side" or shared dislikes. It's essentially coming together over the things that rub you the wrong way, to deepen the connection - and 28% have bonded over being grim.

"This year's dating trends showcase how our romantic lives can take cues from pop culture, and it's always fun to see how in turn, they can help validate shared dating experiences," says Rachel DeAlto, Dating Expert at Plenty of Fish. "Beyond igniting that internal spark, lighthearted trends like 'Smutten' can offer singles a renewed sense of hope and excitement for their dating lives, while 'Freak Matching' serves as a gentle nudge towards embracing our individuality and authenticity. When we put less pressure on ourselves, dating becomes more about having fun and enjoying new experiences - and we want more of that for singles!"

Read more about dating trends and other dating-related advice on the Plenty of Fish Blog. Join the conversation on social by following Plenty of Fish on Instagram, X, and Facebook, using #DatingTrends and #POFDictionary.

Dating Trends Survey Methodology
Nearly 6,000 Plenty of Fish users were polled online in August 2024. Participants were 18+, based in the United States.

About Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish is a dating app for singles who believe in a more laid-back approach to dating, one where they get to know the heart of someone. Our mission is to connect the most singles by building low-pressure experiences where the right people take notice. Unlike many dating offerings today, Plenty of Fish prioritizes creating an authentic, welcoming environment that allows real singles to discover what they're looking for - and simply date better! Plenty of Fish was the first dating app to ban "face filters" in all profile pics and the first Match Group dating app to introduce live streaming. Plenty of Fish is a Match Group (NASDAQ: MTCH) company and is one of the largest global online dating companies, available in 11 languages and more than 20 countries.

SOURCE Plenty of Fish