With the Halloween season upon us, Tinder, the world’s most popular dating app, has witnessed a 136% peak in users between the age of 18-25 including ‘Halloween’ in their bios this October. As the countdown to the celebrations begins, the last thing anyone wants is to be haunted by getting ghosted.
In today’s modern dating age, where authenticity and respect are at the core, young singles have no tolerance for dating games. The app’s own internal data reveals that 18-25 year olds are 32% less likely to ghost someone than 33+ year olds.
While ghosting might seem like the easy way out in certain instances, there are much better ways to end a relationship, no matter how long you have been dating. The app partnered with Dr. Chandni Tugnait, Life coach and relationship expert, to remind users of five important tips to avoid ghosting. Keep this checklist in mind to ensure that you’re a healthy dater.
Have honest conversations
When your match consistently lacks initiative in either starting or actively continuing conversation, it could seem like a potential red flag, as would someone who just won’t stop talking despite your disinterest. Rather than vanishing like a ghost, take a step back with kindness. Give direct feedback and resist the urge to continue a meaningless conversation. If the spell still doesn’t break, know that some situations call for an eventual unmatch.
Be clear with your feelings and intentions
There’s no rush to jump into anything you’re not ready for. Making your feelings clear from the beginning is always helpful. Be transparent and outline your intentions from the outset, ensuring you’re on the same page. You can use Tinder’s Relationship Goals to clearly indicate what you’re looking for. This gives you more control over your interactions and allows you to match with more intention.
Respect boundaries
The most important dating rule, be it online or IRL, is to establish clear boundaries on both sides and respect them. Everyone should feel safe in asserting their boundaries, and consent is fundamental in all dating situations. Decoding whether or not you have someone’s consent in an online setting isn’t always that straightforward. As a broad rule of thumb, always seek clear consent by openly discussing new steps in your online connection with direct questions.
Be considerate
Be upfront but be mindful not to ask intrusive or uncomfortable questions. If you’ve received an inappropriate message or experienced bad behavior such as discriminatory slurs, derogatory language, hate speech, or harassment, speak up. Tinder’s Does This Bother You? asks users this question when they receive a potentially offensive message on the app. When someone responds ‘yes’ to this prompt, they have the option to report the sender for their behaviour. Similarly, Tinder’s Are You Sure? feature helps detect any language in messages that you’re about to send that might be deemed inappropriate. Pause and think about how the other person will receive your question/message. If you have any doubts— don’t send it.
Stay alert – if it feels too good to be true, it probably is.
If someone you’re chatting with online avoids video conversations, requests money for unusual reasons, or consistently offers excuses for not meeting in person, be cautious. To address these concerns, use features like the app’s in-app video calling or Photo Verification to get to know the person better and help confirm that they are the person in their profile.