Dating has never been easy, but the internet has made the process even more rife with lukewarm lovers and passive communication among singles. To describe their dating experiences, young singles and social media users reference special terms for modern dating. Often, these terms characterize annoying behaviors β like a dating app match who suddenly seems to drops off the face of the earth , or one who alludes to taking you on a date, but never follows through β you could encounter while searching for a real connection.
Could you be a victim of "submarining"? Did you "orbit" someone and not even realize it? Here, Insider explains common slang words singles of today commonly use to discuss their dating woes and wins. Breadcrumbing is when someone you'd like to have a relationship with leads you on just enough to keep you in their life without a solid commitment. If a romantic interest gives you just enough time, attention, affection, or words of affirmation to keep you interested, but you still feel like you're at an arm's length from them, you could be a victim of breadcrumbing.
When they feel they may be losing you, they start back up with attention again until they feel that you are re-engaged," Kimberly Panganiban , a licensed marriage and family therapist at Choosing Therapy, told Insider. In a sentence: Sally hadn't heard from Kyle for weeks, but then he breadcrumbed her with a last-minute date.
A soft launch happens when someone drops a hint about their lover on social media without revealing their full identity, like with a photo of two plates on a restaurant table or the back of a lover's head.
In the age of social media, sharing a photo of your boo can be a big deal. That's why some people prefer a soft launch, where they show Instagram or TikTok followers they're romantically involved while making it unclear who their special someone is. People who aren't officially using the labels boyfriend and girlfriend may opt for a soft launch, in case the relationship doesn't work out. In a sentence: When I saw the mysterious silhouette Nora posted on Instagram, I figured she was soft launching her man.
