Dating used to be simple – get familiar, perhaps have dinner, and take it where the sparks would lead. But today in 2025? It needs to be this crazy game show whose rules only keep changing. Half of these so-called “trends” simply don’t make sense if you are over 50. Let’s break down the most head-twirling trends, which the young daters of today swear by but have boomers and Gen Xers stammering, “Wait… you what?”
Situationships (The No-Label Relationship)
Dating but not calling it dating? Exclusive but not official? Welcome to the situationship — a relationship without commitment or definition. Over 50s are confused: “So… you’re together but you’re not?” Modern dating says, “Exactly.”
Dating Bios That Read Like Résumés
Those “Hi, I’m John, and I like dogs and fishing” days are gone. Today we’re at “ENFP, feminist, ethically non-monogamous, anti-capitalist, she/they, no Geminis.” Bios are social manifestos. If you are older than 50, you might just have missed the day when “Let’s go get coffee” was enough.
Ghosting Rather Than “No Thanks”
Used to do, if you didn’t like someone, you told them. Nowadays? People just disappear in the middle of conversations like they enrolled in witness protection. The Over 50s are appalled that “not replying with a text” is an acceptable break-up tactic. No reason, no nothing — only cyberspace tumbleweeds.
Breadcrumbing (Keeping Someone on the Hook)
A decade ago, taking someone on was disrespectful. Now it’s a positive dating tactic. Some dude is sending some cryptic “Hey stranger” remark or heart emoji on a story, flirting just enough to keep you guessing, without a commitment guarantee. The Over 50s refer to it as manipulation. The Under 30s refer to it as it’s just a Tuesday.
Flirting Through Memes Instead Of Conversation
Apparently, when they forward you a new meme every day that is just rip-roaringly funny, that’s affection now. No flirting IRL or genuine compliments anymore—all reposted uploaded TikToks and “me when I haven’t eaten in 5 hours” memes. Humor… created by other people is this generation’s love language.
Texting for Weeks… But Never Meeting
There are people out here texting every day for months… and still haven’t met in person. It’s called a “situationship,” and apparently, it’s normal now. People build entire flirty universes through emojis and memes, but freeze when it comes to actual face-to-face interaction. You’re not dating, you’re pen pals with commitment issues.
Benching (Keeping a Backup Option)
In the past, one could not have more than one partner. These days, it is called “keeping your roster warm.” Benching is really keeping someone on ice on stand-by as a backup in case your main interest doesn’t work out. It is seen as cold-blooded by the over-50s. The young daters call it a smart strategy.
“Soft Launching” Relationships Online
Instead of posting a cute selfie of themselves with their date, Gen Z soft-launches them instead. That is, blurry photos, only hands, or a cryptic caption like “Date night”. They’re dating, but in incognito mode. If you’re over 50, you’re wondering – why hide someone we’re supposedly in love with?
Dating App Exhaustion
Meeting face-to-face? Rare. Now it’s endless swiping, ghosting the profiles, and stunted conversations. People over 50 complain about not running into someone in a pub or through a friend. Dating nowadays is all like shopping online — except the item usually disappears from the cart.
Dry Dating (No Drinks, Just Feelings)
Early dates were a hot meal and a drink. Nowadays? They go dry in order to “feel the real connection.” The 50+ are confused: “What’s wrong with relaxing with a glass of wine?” Modern-day dating is all about mocktails and straight-out stares.
Love Bombing (Then Vanishing)
When you were showered with gifts and attention in the past, it was peak romance. Now, it is a red flag. Love bombing is when someone comes on strong — then ghosts you. Over 50s are shocked: “We used to think that grand gestures were the aim. Now, it seems to be a war on an emotional scale.”
Thirst Traps
Uploading a good-quality selfie or topless gym snap purely for attention. Over 50s don’t know why folk go fishing for compliments on the internet. Dating these days? It’s actually just pimping yourself out – one Photoshopped selfie at a time.
Paperclipping (Popping Back Just to Confuse You)
The ghoster appears with some odd wisecrack or nowhere-in-the-world text message — not to date with you but to tell you they’re alive. Over 50s are baffled: “What’s the point?” Younger daters: “It’s just… vibes.”
Too Busy to Date But Always Online
They inform you that they are too busy for a genuine relationship—but they do make time to swipe, scroll, and send 47 reels a day. Human beings no longer date to date; human beings date to kill time. For you, who placed reservation phone calls and showed up with flowers, this “busy but bored” response is a bitter pill to swallow.
Measuring Compatibility by Zodiac Signs
They’re seriously rejecting people because of their star sign. “Oh, you’re a Scorpio? Red flag.” Forget values or actual connection – dating now hinges on birth charts. If you’ve ever said, “astrology is fun, but not that serious,” you’re already canceled.
Breaking Up Over Text (Or Worse, Emoji)
Can you picture it, humans are breaking up with each other here with a sad face emoji. No face-to-face, no “we need to talk”—a message, or worse, blocking. People who believed in person was the thing to do, this ghostly procedure isn’t being civil.
Slow Fading (The Breakup You Don’t Notice)
Rather than the break-up, someone slowly texts less, cancels more, and vanishes incrementally. Over 50s describe it as dodging. New dating describes it as “avoiding drama.” Translation: it’s still ghosting, only in slow motion.
16 Relationship Habits That Matter More Than Saying “I Love You”
Those tell the truth. If your partner is all talk but no show, what’s the point? These habits speak louder than any three-word phrase ever will be — and if they’re missing, well… perhaps it’s time to stop romanticizing red flags.
16 Relationship Habits That Matter More Than Saying “I Love You”
19 ‘Nice Guy’ Behaviors That Are Actually Just Control
It may not be obvious, but beneath all that sweetness, there are a few red flags to watch out for. Here are 19 nice guy behaviors that are actually a form of control. Despite what you might think, these habits involve steering things his way, not being kind.
19 ‘Nice Guy’ Behaviors That Are Actually Just Control