Dating in 2025 has practically become mission impossible. Although terms like “ghosting” and “zombieing” have been around for years, far more sinister dating trends have been emerging lately that you might not be familiar with. Ignoring all the creeps, incels, and bitter men that are simply undateable, there are guys who, at first glance, give you the impression that you might have found a relationship worth pursuing. But once you attempt to make something meaningful out of it, you find yourself emotionally exhausted after realizing how toxic the relationship has become. With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of 10 dating trends that you could easily fall victim to.
1. Monkey Branching
Monkey branching is the act of seeking a new potential relationship, but not putting the kibosh on the current one until they are certain the new relationship has been established. It gets its name from the idea of a monkey swinging from one branch to another, not letting go of the first one until they have fully secured the second. The ease of finding new partners through dating apps has made this trend especially prevalent.
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The 10 Worst Dating Trends of 2025