Between ghosting & love-bombing

New online dating terminology reflects the swipe fatigue of a generation

- VAISHALI DAR

EVERAL SURVEYS REVEAL dating sites world over have bred fatigue among users. Unsurprisingly, this has given birth to terminology that mirrors this mood. Swipe-fatigue is clearly the new normal.

For instance, 'floodlighting' is a term often used these days when the person shares deeply personal information all at once. Personal information can be a past trauma, childhood fantasies and struggles. It also happens when the person wants to share information in a relationship to gain a sense of intimacy, other person's empathy or trust.

Brené Brown, author of The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage, coined this term, and she says, "Oversharing? Not vulnerability; I call it floodlighting... A lot of times we share too much information as a way to protect us from vulnerability." Every year, dating terminology gets a fresh batch of buzzwords and trends like ghosting, love bombing that connect new-age daters.

Here's a list of some fancier, and most updated trends that will change the way you date in 2025:

Anti-app dating: Living in an app-dominated world, one always finds ways to cut the clutter. App fatigue is normal. More people are looking at connections in bars, clubs and bookshops for matchmaking spots.

Past friend: Many singles are looking to connect with people from their past. Revisiting old contact lists or missed connections whom you never met up with can help you catch up.