Dating experts share eight trends singles should watch out for in 2021

 Couple on a date. (Courtesy)

Between lockdown sex bans and Zoom dates, it's been a difficult year for those looking for love. Physical connections were no longer an option so many were forced to make emotional connections virtually - talking over the phone or via web cam. As the dating landscape has shifted, experts have predicted that it looks set to change once again in the new year.

With 2020 drawing to a close, OkCupid have taken a look back at recent data from their famous matching questions and revealed what they expect to be the eight big dating trends singles should look out for in 2021. Here's a look at what they are and what they mean, according to the experts.

Speed-Rooming

More than five million people on OkCupid said couples should live together before considering getting married. 89% of respondents in 2020 agree and the pandemic only accelerated couples shacking up. 

Wilder-dating

More than half of OkCupid’s respondents from around the world (59%) said the recent pandemic has made them more motivated towards future adventures, with outdoor dates proving a popular option for socially distanced meet-ups.

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Advodating

Recently, 48% of Gen Z women and 41% of Millennial women said they consider themselves activists, and Gen Z overall was 11% more likely than Millennials to self-identify as activists.

Borderless love

Since the beginning of the pandemic, connections and conversations across borders are up nearly 50% among singles, and people are setting their location preferences to “anywhere” more than ever before.

Inner-Party Dating

More than two million people answered our question "Do you prefer that your date shares your political views?" with 64% of respondents agreeing: cross-party dating does not work in modern relationships. In 2021, we’re going to see more people are refusing to date outside party lines.

Selfie-Love

Dating app usage reached unprecedented levels this year. In fact, 92% of OkCupid respondents around the world said they were continuing to find love under lockdown. With people continuing to spend more time on the app, we’re going to see a shift towards singles paying closer attention to their dating profile pictures.

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Slow Dating

As the pressure of rushing to meet up with someone IRL vanishes, we’re going to see a rise in "slow dating" - a blend of deeper conversations and more romance through digital and virtual dating.

Thunberging

With climate change continuing to be a major talking point globally, OkCupid is finding that more and more people’s passion for the planet is becoming a steamy subject and a topic to bond over.