Latest news with #datingexperts
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Missing Virgin Island? 3 more reality shows for a loved-up summer
IT WAS the hit Channel 4 show that saw 12 adult virgins discovering themselves – and intimacy – on an island retreat in Croatia. From their emotional vulnerability to the joy of being carefree in the moment, it's safe to say the participants of Virgin Island stole the hearts of the nation. 4 Now the series has come to an end, are you looking to fill the void it's left behind? Channel 4 has a plethora of shows to choose from, and we've lined up three reality series that are perfect if you loved Virgin Island. Remember the first time Want to continue the theme of firsts? Why not tap into one of Channel 4's most successful franchises: First Dates. Making matches for over a decade, TV's most wholesome dating show is back with its 24th season. If you've not seen the show before (where have you been?), just like Virgin Island, First Dates provides heartwarming, authentic encounters between genuine people. With everyone looking for one thing – love – the show provides the most romantic interactions, as well as some hilarious moments that could only happen on a first date. Hosted by TV favourite Fred Sirieix and his stellar team, will this season bring us another First Dates wedding? Or will there be more awkward meetings of exes or first date fails? One thing's certain: this series of firsts will satisfy your reality loving needs! 4 Guided by experts Do you love the knowledge and wisdom an expert brings to a reality show? Virgin Island had its sexologists, whereas another Channel 4 show brings a different type of boffin – the relationship experts. Paul Carrick Brunson and Anna Williamson have entered the chat. They are the relationship experts who guide six hopeless celebrities in their quests to find true love in Celebs Go Dating. From date debriefs to raw, honest chats, the experts provide the no-nonsense advice we wish we could tell celebrities when we read about their relationships online! Back for series 14, the show is set to be a juicy one this year. The line-up includes pop star and reality TV legend Kerry Katona, as well as other familiar faces including Olivia Hawkins, Louis Russell, Jon Lee, Mark Labbett and Christine McGuinness. There's nothing more satisfying than learning that celebs are just like us and have the same first date jitters that we do. Expect some hilarious moments, awkward convos and straight-talking advice as we watch the celeb agency clients navigate the world of dating someone 'normal'! Let's just hope no one gets with a fellow celebrity this year. 4 Reality in paradise Virgin Island takes place on an idyllic retreat set in the stunning waters of Croatia. If you're craving more sea, sun and summer reality TV vibes, then Below Deck Mediterranean should be next on your watchlist! The latest season is available on Channel 4, letting you dive into the world of yachting and the super-rich. With Captain Sandy at the helm, along with her rowdy crew, can the team master the guests' wild demands while also navigating their own personal lives? Expect mishaps, close calls, lavish themed nights and some rather bonkers guest requests – maybe paradise isn't so stress-free after all! Already watched the drama in the Med? Find more onboard action in the Caribbean and Australia by streaming Below Deck or Below Deck Down Under. Hot dates to watch out for NEVER miss an episode this summer. Here's when to watch with Channel 4… First Dates Catch up with Fred and the gang, and all the hilarious first dates in series 1 to 23 – available now. Series 24 episodes are dropping weekly. Celebs Go Dating Series 1 to 13 are available, with season 14 episodes coming each week from August 4. Below Deck Season 11 of Below Deck has just arrived, with episodes dropping weekly. You can also watch the latest season of Below Deck Mediterranean. Keep an eye out for the new series of Below Deck Sailing Yacht launching on August 6.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dating expert issues warning over controversial 'cookie jarring' trend as people label it 'gross'
Dating experts have issued a warning over the controversial 'cookie-jarring' dating trend - as people labelled it 'gross'. The trend, which first originated in 2019, refers to the practice of dating a person you've put in a reserve position while you're dating someone else, in order to keep your options open. And it seems to have made a comeback for 2025, with more and more singletons taking to social media to express their concern that they've been 'cookie-jarred' by a potential partner - in the UK and beyond. If things aren't going well with their first option, people might 'dip back into' the cookie jar to explore their other options - with no real intent of pursuing anything long term. As a result, daters are seeing multiple people at one time, leading to confusion for all parties involved. People have been left horrified by the trend, with some calling it 'gross' and 'disgusting', but others noted it's been 'going on since time began' and is just 'part of dating'. Dating experts have also warned against the trend - saying those taking part will just 'shoot themselves in the foot' in the future. Positive Psychology Coach Arrezo Azim shared on TikTok: 'Let's be honest, you're keeping them on the side because you want to have somebody else as back-up in case this doesn't work out. 'Don't jump right back in to the dating world, or start talking to someone from the past, or start talking to someone new. I don't care if they reached out to you. Give yourself time when you're not getting external validation from something or someone else. 'It's hard but if you want something healthier than the situation that did not work out, then don't shoot yourself in the foot. The attention's amazing - but the long-term effects are a lot worse if you do it that way.' Dating trends expert Eugénie Legendre previously warned against the trend, saying: 'So you have been seeing someone for quite some time and want to have a little extra security, just in case. 'You start getting a little friendlier with that crush you spotted in your lecture or at work, so you have something to fall back on if it all goes wrong. 'If you are guilty of this then you are cookie jarring. Give yourself time to get to know someone without the influence of anyone else and if things just don't work out, then that's okay – but don't get a back-up because you are unsure.' On social media, people were quick to blast the trend - while several noted it had happened to them in the past. One person said: 'Literally just happened to me just for her to get back with her ex…..' A second had a similar situation: 'Just happened to me ex left me for another guy but came back to me through conversation just for emotional support.' On social media, people were quick to blast the trend - while several noted it had happened to them in the past Another wrote on Reddit on the thread r/datingoverforty: 'Dammit, I've been cookie jarred! I've called it being the backup girl. So incredibly selfish of people.' Others said: 'This is like "the spare key under the doormat" analogy. You're hopefully not needed but kept around just in case'; 'Humans are disgusting'; 'OLD [online dating] has created an entire society of adults who are incapable of healthy dating and relationships. It's gross'; However another said: 'This is just... dating? It's unrealistic to expect exclusivity early in the relationship, but eventually everyone can discuss monogamy if that's what they want long-term. 'I think this "trend" is only an issue if one person is dishonest about their other partners.' From 'ghosting' and 'breadcrumbing,' to 'carouselling' and 'throning,' there's a never-ending catalog of certain behaviors to look out for when immersing yourself in the world of dating - and the signs aren't always so easy to spot. Floodlighting is the latest term to make its way onto the list and its been claimed that it can create a 'false sense of security' in the early stages of a potential romance. The word came about as singletons are told to imagine literally putting your relationship under the spotlight - even when it might not be ready for such harsh, uncompromising attention. It involves one partner oversharing emotionally charged details early in the romance, creating a false sense of intimacy. Relationship experts have warned that this can lead to emotional imbalances and can even overwhelm both parties. Speaking to Glamour, Jessica Alderson - who is a relationship expert and co-founder of the dating app So Synced - explained: 'Floodlighting in dating is about using vulnerability as a high-intensity spotlight. 'It involves sharing a lot of personal details all at once - to test the waters, speed up intimacy, or see if the other person can "handle" these parts of you.' She went on to say that while floodlighting isn't always toxic, it can be more harmful than people might think. Common signs that someone might be dating a flood-lighter include quick and detailed disclosure of one's intimate information as well as a one-sided exchange of sob stories. This can create an uneven balance where one person ends up carrying most of the emotional weight. Another sign could be a fast and intense emotional connection in the early stages of the romance. The flood-lighter may also present an intense analysis of your reactions to the stories they've shared with you. Alderson revealed that this type of behavior often stems from a place of insecurity as it can be a way of preempting rejection by showing your most vulnerable self. 'While vulnerability is essential in building a strong relationship, there's a time and place for different levels,' she explained. 'By sharing too much too quickly, you may be putting yourself at risk of being exploited or taken advantage of by someone who may not have your best interests at heart.' The latest trend comes after it was revealed that Gen Z are ditching dating apps and looking for love on TikTok by making 'application videos' for potential suitors. Sick of swiping and casual hook-ups, Gen Z has become increasingly skeptical about the modern state of dating - with many desperately seeking out new methods for finding partners and others even renouncing the search for love all together. Now, a new dating trend circling on social media has young people posting boyfriend or girlfriend 'applications', offering themselves or their loved ones out to the wider world. Several have taken to TikTok to offer themselves up as open for a relationship, with some even penning their 'pros and cons' to potential suitors, alongside pictures and videos of them looking their best. Creators then list what they are looking for in a romantic partner, and wait for the love applicants to roll in.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tinder is testing a height filter. What should short kings do?
Short kings are up in arms over a controversial new feature on Tinder. The dating app has started testing a new feature that allows people who pay for the app to filter potential matches based on height − a move that's sparked discussion online about the challenges short men face while dating. "We're always listening to what matters most to our Tinder users — and testing the paid height preference is a great example of how we're building with urgency, clarity, and focus," Philip Price Fry, vice president of communications at Tinder, said in a statement. "This is part of a broader effort to help people connect more intentionally on Tinder." The feature might be new for Tinder, but it's already part of other dating apps, like Hinge and Bumble, which have long offered height filters for paying users. Dating and relationship experts say dating can be more difficult for short men, especially on apps, where height filters cause them to get overlooked off-the-bat. While this can certainly feel discouraging, it's important not to lose hope: There's still plenty of ways to meet people open to dating a short king. More: People are paying thousands for 'dating boot camp' with sex experts. I signed up. It's also important, they add, for daters to be open-minded. There's nothing wrong with preferring to date someone tall − but it's important to ask yourself how important a specific trait is to you before turning on a filter that will eliminate potential matches. "I understand preferences are important," says Amy Chan, a dating coach and the author of "Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart." "The problem is when we confuse preferences with deal-breakers." Blaine Anderson, a dating coach for men, says it's also important for people to keep their height preferences in perspective. For instance, someone who's 5'4" and wants to date someone taller probably doesn't need their height filter set to 6' and above; they might find someone who's 5'8" to be the perfect height for them. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter News that Tinder is testing a height filter has inspired conversations on social media about the ups and downs dating as a man when your height doesn't start with a "6." "Women aren't ready for this conversation but they need to stop filtering by height on dating apps," one X user wrote. "I met Kyle on Hinge. He didn't lie about his height (5'9") and was filtered out by a lot of women! Many of my friends would have filtered him out! Don't do this." Others cracked jokes: "I set my height as 6'4 on dating apps let it accrue matches for a couple weeks then set it back to 5'10 and message them." Some, like bodybuilder and fitness influencer Jeff Nippard, who's 5'5," offered advice: "This really isn't a big deal. As a short man, if a woman doesn't find you attractive because of your height then why would you want to be with her anyway?" Chan speculates height preferences stem from evolution, going back thousands of years to when physical size and strength were necessary for survival. Now, however, that's no longer the case. "Men's height has been culturally associated with masculinity, power and protection," Chan says. "I joke with my friends that, unless you're planning on getting into bar fights, the guy who has access to a good lawyer is probably going to be able to protect you more than a guy who's tall." Have you heard of 'relation-shopping'? It might be why you're still single. Chan encourages people to find ways of meeting people outside of dating apps, ideally in settings where their personalities can shine. "We know through research that apps cause people to filter very harshly, even if they wouldn't do so in person," Chan says. "I always tell my clients to have three different forms of 'lead generation'. If you're on apps, great, but add two more. Maybe that's joining a club or taking up a hobby where you'll meet other like-minded people and build relationships and community over time." More: Relationship experts say these common dating 'rules' are actually ruining your love life Anderson offers similar advice − and adds daters shouldn't waste their energy feeling frustrated over what they can't control. You can't change your height, but you can work on other attributes to attract a partner. "Rather than getting mad or feeling frustrated about it, accept the reality and control the things you can control," she says. "You can control the number of women you approach in a day or a week. You can control having a great smile and a nice personality when you approach that person." More: 'Tall Girl 2,' Zendaya and Tom Holland and the stigma around tall women dating shorter men And, if you're someone who does use a height filter, you might want to try expanding it an inch or two and seeing what happens, Anderson says. You could be surprised by who you meet. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tinder is testing a height filter. Sorry, short kings.
