Latest news with #datingtrends
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Social media dating trend points to act women no longer accepting
The dating game can be brutal with trends like ghosting and the emphasis on casual relationships amplified — but finally it seems like the bar for the bare minimum has risen. Women of TikTok have put their partners to the test, asking them a series of statements with the question; 'Is this princess treatment or the bare minimum?' For context, princess treatment is when a partner does something that a reasonable person would consider above and beyond. While, the bare minimum is the standard and what should be expected in a relationship. The most telling thing about the trend is exactly what is deemed to be the bare minimum, as for years it was simply replying to a text message before 10pm. Rosie and Harry, a British content creator couple who moved to Australia, took part in the trend. For every answer Harry got 'wrong', 25-year-old Rosie sprayed her fiance with water. 'Princess treatment or bare minimum — knowing exactly what period products I need from the store without asking me,' Rosie asked. Harry responded that was the bare minimum. Next, he said washing Rosie's hair in the shower for her seemed like 'princess treatment', to which she agreed. However, Harry faltered, according to Rosie, when she asked which category it fell under for him to always give her the last bite of his food at the restaurant every time. He dubbed it princess treatment. He said that Rosie always having access to his phone, not liking other women's photos on social media and offering to take photos of Rosie when they were out were all the bare minimum. But, what does this mean for Australia's dating scene? Nicole Colantoni, eHarmony's relationship expert, said that bare minimum behaviour are things like responding to messages, remembering someone's birthday or asking how your partner's day has been. Meanwhile, she's seen 'Princess Treatment' described as dropping your partner off at work and picking them up every day, driving two suburbs over on a rainy Sunday to pick up a favourite pastry and washing their partner's hair. She said it's a stark reminder that you need to know your partner's expectations and love languages. 'It's a playful yet pointed reminder that things like texting back, remembering your partner's birthday, or making plans in advance aren't 'over the top' — they're just the basics of emotional maturity and care,' she said. 'On the other hand, something like booking a surprise weekend away or tickling your partner to sleep might be considered princess treatment — going that extra mile to really make someone feel special.' She said it was a signal that we are finally seeing a shift towards more intentional and emotionally intelligent dating. Ms Colantoni said people are becoming increasingly conscious of what it takes to create a healthy relationship, and people are no longer solely looking at achieving financial security or social status through dating. So, why are people finally bucking the trend of cool and casual when it comes to dating? 'For one, people are more emotionally aware than ever — we're talking about attachment styles, emotional regulation, love languages, and relationship standards openly on social media,' the relationship expert said. 'There's also this culture of comparison happening, where people are constantly scrolling and comparing their relationships to curated versions of others online, which can blur the lines around what's 'normal' versus what's actually meaningful. I also think the post-pandemic world has sparked a deeper craving for emotional intimacy and effort. People want to feel prioritised, not just partnered.' She said to ask for more, it's important to know what you need — and then express it clearly and kindly. It's also important to have regular check ins. 'The trend is a reminder that while we think we know what our partner needs, we often don't — and that clear communication is essential. It also reflects how our standards and needs evolve, and how a relationship has to adapt with them,' she said. 'Sometimes, we do want a little extra care or surprise effort — whether or not we call it princess treatment. And that's okay. The real message is that intentional effort matters.'
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Cookie jarring': The ‘disgusting' act young people do when dating
Relationship experts are warning a controversial dating trend on the rise among young singles. 'Cookie jarring', a practice whereby someone dates multiple people simultaneously to keep their options open, reportedly first began trending in 2019, the New York Post reports. Those who are 'cookie jarred' are not the suitor's main person of interest and are instead kept as a backup in case things fall through with the primary object of affection, making the position highly undesirable. After a brief lull in popularity, a popular dating expert has revealed the 'disgusting' dating act is back. '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,' Positive Psychology Coach Arrezo Azim stated, per the Daily Mail. 'The attention's amazing — but the long-term effects are a lot worse if you do it that way.' Dating trends expert Eugénie Legendre explained there were more effective ways to date than '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,' Legendre told the publication. It's not only detrimental for the person who is doing the cookie jarring — it's just as damaging for people who have been placed in the back-up position, who may be left wondering why things aren't progressing Victims of cookie jarring have described the practice as 'disgusting,' 'gross' and 'selfish.' Cookie jarring is not dissimilar to both the 'benching' and 'breadcrumbing' trends that have become part of the dating lexicon in recent years. 'You like them, you just don't like them enough to prioritise them,' Match chief dating expert Rachel DeAlto previously told the New York Post about the behaviour. Feeling like a backup can damage a dater's self-esteem. 'It is an innately human desire to be wanted and seen. Being benched creates a cycle of unmet expectations and unclear boundaries, and the person being benched will likely start to feel like they aren't important,' DeAlto added.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Have you been ‘cookie jarred'? This is the ‘disgusting' act young people do when dating
It's a jarring experience. Relationship experts are warning about the rise of 'cookie jarring' — a practice whereby someone dates multiple people simultaneously to keep their options open. Those who are 'cookie jarred' are not the suitor's main person of interest and are instead kept as a backup in case things fall through with the primary object of affection. '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,' Positive Psychology Coach Arrezo Azim stated, per the Daily Mail. 'The attention's amazing — but the long-term effects are a lot worse if you do it that way,' Azim added. '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,' dating trends expert Eugénie Legendre told the Daily Mail. It's not only detrimental for the person who is doing the cookie jarring — it's just as damaging for people who have been placed in the back-up position, who may be left wondering why things aren't progressing Victims of cookie jarring have described the practice as 'disgusting,' 'gross' and 'selfish.' Cookie jarring is not dissimilar to both the 'benching' and 'breadcrumbing' trends that have become part of the dating lexicon in recent years. 'You like them, you just don't like them enough to prioritize them,' Match chief dating expert Rachel DeAlto previously told The Post about the behavior. Feeling like a backup can damage a dater's self-esteem. 'It is an innately human desire to be wanted and seen. Being benched creates a cycle of unmet expectations and unclear boundaries, and the person being benched will likely start to feel like they aren't important,' DeAlto added.
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
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is your significant other ‘cookie jarring' you? These are the sneaky signs to look out for
Too many options in the dating cookie jar. One of the many things that makes dating so difficult these days is that people oftentimes don't want to commit. With the help of dating apps, even after meeting someone they're interested in, single people continue swiping to see their other options. Unfortunately, there's a name for that toxic trend: 'cooking jarring,' as explained by Forbes. Cooking jarring is when someone keeps a potential suitor in their back pocket as a safety net while exploring other dating potentials, but never really committing — in other words, you're just one of many cookies in a big dating cookie jar. Instead of accepting the bare minimum from someone, be on the lookout for some of these telltale signs that indicate you're being treated like a treat — just not a sweet one. If the person you're dating rarely commits to plans and won't discuss where your relationship is headed, you're most likely one of many options for this person. Another sign to be on the lookout for is if things feel very one-sided between you and your beau. If you're often the one reaching out and putting in most of the effort — you better run for the hills. Extended response times when texting and never feeling like a priority likely mean that the person you're seeing is pursuing other lovers. While you're evaluating your relationship for cookie crumbs, you should also pay attention to whether or not your boo brings you around their friends and family or if they ever post you on social media. If your answer to the above scenarios is no — your significant other is most likely pocketing you. 'While pocketing can be frustrating and hurt the trust in a relationship, there are plenty of reasons why someone is pocketing,' Amanda E. White, LPC, told Women's Health in an interview. 'It could be out of fear, it could be because of past relationships that didn't work out. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're not into you or that the relationship has no hope.' However, 'Dr. Chloe' Carmichael told the outlet that in some cases, people choose to pocket someone they're dating because they genuinely like them and aren't sure how best to handle their feelings. '…sometimes people really just want to tread lightly while a relationship is in a new or delicate stage,' Carmichael explained.
