Apparently, we can no longer simply “get to know someone,” “go on a double date,” or “ask a friend to set us up.” Everything must have a name. And while I personally do not believe every dating behavior requires its own catchy term, beneath the increasingly ridiculous vocabulary is actual insight into how dating is changing in 2026.
At the end of last year, Tinder released its annual Year in Swipe report, complete with the trends meant to get us through 2026—or, at the very least, help us navigate it while being slightly more informed. But now that we’re halfway through the year, what are the terms and trends actually defining the current state of dating this Summer?
I did the research. I scoured the internet, interrogated my friends currently in the dating trenches, and even called in an actual sociologist—Dr. Jess Carbino, former sociologist for Tinder and Bumble—to figure out what, exactly, we need to know heading into a summer of love.
The answer, I would argue, is a mix of old and new. Some dating trends don’t yet have a term attached to them, while others have been coined and ingrained into our collective vocabulary. Some we’re unfortunately stuck with forever—looking at you, ghosting—while newer, painfully relatable terms like “ghostlighting” are just starting to make the rounds.
Apparently, dating in 2026 is all about clarity. So, let’s get clear on the trends and terminology defining dating this summer.
“Two Man”
Why go on an awkward first date alone when you can bring a friend along for the ride? “Two man” is essentially TikTok’s rebrand of the double date, with one important distinction: Unlike a traditional double date, which typically involves two established couples, a “two man” can involve two friends and their respective dates, even if no one involved has met before. The trend may say something bigger about the increasingly important role friends are playing in our dating lives. Carbino points out that because Gen Z is forming serious romantic partnerships later, friends remain a central influence for longer. Hence another dating term on the rise: friendfluence. Two manning allows those friends to become part of the dating process itself—offering moral support, a second opinion, and, if all else fails, someone to exchange looks with across the table.
“Date My Friend” PowerPoints and Old-Fashioned Setups
If swiping through hundreds of strangers has lost its appeal, apparently it’s time to hand the job over to someone who actually knows you. From good old-fashioned setups to “Date My Friend” PowerPoints and social media posts advertising eligible friends to the masses, singles are increasingly looking to their social circles for help finding a match. And according to Carbino, there’s a reason being set up can feel more appealing than meeting another random person online: “People believe there’s a higher degree of social accountability.” In theory, the mutual connection has vetted both parties, thinks you might actually be compatible, and creates at least a tiny bit of connective tissue between two strangers. Will that stop your friend’s coworker’s brother from ghosting you? Unfortunately, no. But Carbino says people are craving ways to meet potential partners through those who know them, explaining, “People want to turn back to other mediators that they feel know them.”
“Wildflowering”
Despite what the name may suggest, wildflowering does not require moving to a meadow, deleting Hinge, and waiting for a handsome stranger to appear among the daisies. Instead, the term describes allowing a romantic connection to develop naturally without immediately forcing it into a label, timeline, or predetermined set of expectations. Carbino calls wildflowering one of the most interesting and consequential dating terms she’s encountered recently—even if the behavior itself is nothing new. “This term is something that people used to just call getting to know you, not putting pressure on things,” she says. Wildflowering, then, is less about refusing commitment and more about approaching dating with curiosity instead of immediately asking where a relationship is going. In other words: You can, apparently, simply see what happens. Revolutionary.
Yearning
Somewhere along the way, we got tired of pretending to be chill. Now, we yearn. The internet’s current obsession with longing, pining, and wanting someone so badly you may as well be staring mournfully out of a rain-covered window has officially made its way into the dating conversation. But according to Carbino, our attraction to yearning may go deeper than a collective desire to cosplay a period drama. “We all try to complete our psychological arc,” she says. From a psychological perspective, we may find ourselves drawn to unavailable people or relationships because we’re unconsciously attempting to recreate—and finally repair—dynamics from our earliest relationships. Of course, sometimes you just miss someone and want them to text you back. But Carbino’s explanation does raise an uncomfortable question: Are you yearning for them, or are you yearning for the satisfaction of finally getting something you’ve spent your whole life chasing? Fun!
“Wanderlove”
Vacation hookups have existed for as long as attractive strangers, hotel bars, and the temporary delusion that you could absolutely make long distance work. Now, we’re calling it Wanderlove. The term refers to romantic connections formed while traveling, whether that means embracing a fleeting vacation fling or remaining open to something that could continue once everyone returns home. On vacation, your schedule, habits, and mindset change, making you more open to experiences—and people—you might approach differently in your everyday life. As Carbino explains, “You’re entering a mindset where you otherwise would act differently.” Does that mean the hot man you met in Spain is your soulmate? No. Does it mean I’m telling you not to find out? Also no.
“Affordating”
Unfortunately, the economy has entered the dating chat. “Affordating” is exactly what it sounds like: dating with your actual budget in mind instead of spending $200 every Friday night pretending you don’t know how much rent costs. As the cost of seemingly everything continues to climb, singles are embracing less expensive dates, splitting costs, taking advantage of free activities, and becoming more transparent about what they can and can’t afford. And while “want to go for a walk?” may still inspire fear in the hearts of those of us who believe dinner is a perfectly reasonable first date, affordating doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning romance—or effort. The point is being more intentional about where your money goes and finding ways to connect that don’t leave either person staring at their credit card statement in horror the next morning. Financial compatibility is part of compatibility, after all, and apparently we’re finally ready to talk about it.
“Solo-maxxing”
Solo-maxxing is all about investing in yourself, your friendships, your hobbies, your career, and the life you already have instead of treating finding a relationship like your sole extracurricular activity. It fits neatly into a larger cultural shift away from viewing romantic partnership as the only path to a fulfilling life, particularly as people marry later and spend more of adulthood single. The important distinction here is that solo-maxxing isn’t necessarily about giving up on dating altogether. You can want a relationship while refusing to put your life on hold until one arrives. Basically, go on the trip. Buy yourself dinner. Get the nice sheets. If someone eventually joins you, wonderful. In the meantime, you still have a life to live.
Clear-coding
After years of situationships, mixed signals, breadcrumbing, and trying to decipher whether “haha yeah we should definitely do that sometime” constitutes actual plans, singles are apparently ready to try something radical: saying what they mean. Clear-coding is the practice of being upfront about your intentions, feelings, and expectations rather than forcing another person to conduct a forensic investigation of your text messages. It can mean clearly stating that you’re looking for a serious relationship, telling someone when you’re interested, or—brace yourself—actually communicating when you’re not. The larger appeal is obvious. Dating has always involved uncertainty, but after years of increasingly ambiguous relationship dynamics, clarity can feel like a luxury.
