Love in 2025 is shaping up to be a little less perfect fairy tale, and a lot more real-world rom-com.
According to Bumble’s latest report, singles are ditching outdated timelines, tolerating fewer red flags, and getting brutally honest about what they want. It’s a transitional year for dating, where romance isn’t dead—it’s just been downsized into meme-worthy micro-gestures.
From male besties as dating consultants to oversharing every swipe and heartbreak on TikTok, dating is looking to get messy, modern and unapologetically real in 2025.
Micro-mance: Romance in the Little Things
Remember when “romance” meant dinner reservations, rose petals, and (borderline overwhelming) declarations of love? Yeah, us neither. Turns out, 2025 isn’t interested in your grandiose gestures—welcome to the era where texting “good morning” is the new bouquet of flowers.
According to Bumble’s research, 52% of women globally are all about small, thoughtful gestures such as sweet texts, sharing a playlist, or sending memes. So, if your idea of romance is liking someone’s story and throwing in a fire emoji, you’re probably ahead of the curve.
DWM (Date With Me): Reality Dating 2.0
You know how everyone’s all about keeping it real on social media these days? Well, dating’s no different. Forget curated Instagram posts of the “perfect” date. In 2025, we’re embracing the real, raw moments of dating – the awkward pauses, the first date jitters, and even those “we’re not sure where this is going” moments.
From live-streamed break-ups to post-date debriefs, singles are sharing their dating journeys in real time. This trend will only intensify in 2025, with 50% of Singaporean singles celebrating authentic, unfiltered dating content that showcases both the highs and lows of relationships. The shift towards more realistic dating experiences is helping singles feel less self-conscious and more connected to one another. Nearly half of women (47%) feel less lonely as a result of seeing others openly discuss their dating lives. Realistic content is helping individuals set healthier relationship goals and tackle red flags early, fostering optimism about finding love.
On The Same (Fan) Page: Love Through Shared Passions
Forget about discovering mutual love for world travel or long walks on the beach – this year, it’s all about finding someone who shares your deep passion for hot sauce, obscure 90s sitcoms, or hiking in locations with zero cell service.
Bumble’s trend reports say that niche interests are now the key to a successful relationship. According to Bumble, over half of Singaporean singles now find unique interests super attractive – and more than half of Gen Z singles say bonding over a shared passion feels like an intimate experience.
Bumble’s new Interest Badges are all about making it easier to find someone who gets your vibe – and who knows, maybe that’s the key to the kind of deep connection you’ve been looking for.
Male-Casting: A New Narrative for Masculinity
The conversation around masculinity is shifting, and thank goodness for that. Bumble’s trend roundup tells us that men are finally stepping up and redefining masculinity. (It took a while, but hey, better late than never.) In fact, Over half of women (53%) believe the conversation on masculinity needs to evolve, and we’re all for this shift. We’ve all had enough of the one-dimensional bad boys – we’re now looking for emotionally intelligent, introspective guys.
So, what does that mean for your next date? Expect feelings. Lots of them. Maybe even a tear or two. Or ten.
Future-Proofing: Stability Is Sexy
Oh, you thought dating was just about chemistry and witty banter? Well, guess what? In 2025, it’s not just about swiping right – it’s about finding someone who can handle the real-life uncertainties that we all face. And by real-life, I mean everything from job security to climate change to figuring out where to live in the future. In Singapore, 96% of singles admit their concerns about the future are influencing their dating choices, and we’re seeing more singles push for candid conversations about stability earlier on in relationships. It’s not just about emotional consistency – it’s about finding someone who’s got their life together and can talk openly about those bigger, scary topics.
Guys That Get It: The Rise of the Male Best Friend
In 2025, men are stepping in as relationship advisors, because what better way to decode the mystery that is men than, well, an actual man? According to Bumble, 31% of women are asking their guy friends for dating advice, and 59% of Singaporean women turn to the men in their lives to help decode men’s dating behavior – proving that sometimes, there is no perfect explanation, just shared wisdom.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
READ MORE
Upcoming Films And Shows From Disney That You Shouldn’t Miss In 2025
The Great GRAZIA Gift Guide: Must-Have Lifestyle Picks for the Holidays
Horoscopes November 25–December 1: Mercury Retrograde Returns