Tinder’s Year In Swipe: 2025 Singles Want No Games, Just Straight Shooters And Spontaneity

According to Tinder’s Year In Swipe 2024, dating in 2025 is all about ditching the drama and redefining romance – it’s all about speaking up, seizing the moment, and, of course, keeping the vibes honest and fun. 

Our writers, a married couple in real life who found each other through Tinder (her: date count 50, him: date count, 2, and got lucky), dive into the findings to share their thoughts on how trust, shared values, and a sprinkle of spontaneity are shaping the dating game. 

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

1. Singles are loud looking – no more guessing games 

In 2025, singles are ditching mixed signals and speaking up about what they want. Nearly 20% are manifesting love with vision boards, prioritising trust, attraction, and shared values. Empty chats are out; purposeful connections are in.  

In 2024, singles were caught in an "Assumptions Epidemic". Tinder’s Green Flags Study found that 65% of women thought men were mostly after casual flings, but only 29% of men actually said that was what they wanted. 

Gwen: The numbers certainly stack up to what I hear from my friends IRL. My female friends generally had a distrust for dating apps and when I probed further, they cited that “men on dating apps only want one thing”, even though I had previously told them about my positive experiences meeting people from the app.  

Nic: And I know male friends on the app who are truly looking for their forever partner. Really, both parties should lay out everything they expect from the start.  

Gwen: I love that no one has time for guessing games, and are defining dating on their own terms. It used to be about the unspoken rules - you have to wait for him to call, don’t appear too desperate…guess what? This is a breath of fresh air and I stan a good dating trend when I see one.   

Nic: I admit, I was one of these victims. I was always trying to figure out whether I’m doing the correct thing or if I accidentally made someone angry. Just say it straight whether yes or no, I like or I don’t like - your partner (especially if it’s a guy) will thank you for it.  

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

2. Some call it fate, we call it kiss-met 

Dating in 2025 is all about spontaneity and  embracing unplanned moments. 97% of Singaporean Gen Zs have had a romantic relationship that started on a dating app. Forty percent of surveyed singles are planning sweaty hike dates, while 34% plan on pottery classes and vintage shopping trips.  

Nic: Spontaneous dates? I know many people used to say it sort of sounds like you’re being insincere - dates were meant to be planned in advance and well thought out. What’s the most spontaneous date you’ve been on?   

Gwen: I guess the prize goes to… a Fitness First gym date? Bro wanted to hang out but gains are important too, and I had to fulfil my weekly workout quota anyway, so what’s wrong with a first date at the gym? Except I probably looked super unglam, we went splitsies on Aston’s and splitsies in life too LOL.  

Nic: For me it’s the one where I invited you to come to the airport because I was flying off for work for two weeks - it was such a last minute thing that I didn’t think you’d say yes 😂. Luckily for me you agreed to come and watch a movie at a Starbucks while waiting for my flight.  

Gwen: That was probably the turning point in our relationship - who knows what would have happened if we didn’t meet up and after two weeks, the interest just fizzled out? In hindsight, I’m glad that I took the leap of spontaneity, since I’m a typical Type A.   

Nic: Also, nearly half of singles are planning hiking dates? I’m feeling the PTSD of being asked to go to MacRitchie and that other place with the steep hill you dragged me to…  

Gwen: Hey, if you can get fit, spend time together and get closer to Mother Nature all in one date - that’s a win-win-win leh.   

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

3. Nano-ships: No connection is too small 

Quick sparks and fleeting moments matter in 2025. From “eyecontactships” to “textuationships,” singles are celebrating micro-connections while seeking long-term love. A quarter of surveyed singles focused on finding positivity and joy in the world, and they’re  bringing an optimistic outlook to dating and relationships.  

Nic: It’s the little things that count when keeping the relationship going strong. Don’t you want to see a “good morning baby” or “I love you” when you’re going about your day? Cannot be you just ignore the whole day and only text when needed - if that’s the case, then you’re probably not number 1 on their must-do list. 

Gwen: Hmm, I don’t think that’s what they meant by nano-ships. It seems to be fleeting moments of romance, like exchanging a flirtatious glance with the cute guy on your commute to work, or having an engaging conversation with someone at 1 am that you know you’re not gonna settle down with.  

Nic: Later people think I’m some creepy stalker if I glance like that lol. And isn’t it giving the wrong signals if you’re talking to someone you’re not interested in during the wee hours of the morning?  

Gwen: It’s about appreciating the quality interactions for what it is, even if you know it’s leading nowhere. Reference: Carrie from Sex and the City.  

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

4. Dating is a team sport 

Friends are the dating MVPs in 2025. Nearly 40% of singles are guided by astrology, with Virgos, Geminis, Leos, Sagittariuses, and Scorpios topping the Like list. Nearly 50% of singles say they rely on their friends to navigate the dating world in 2025, and 53% of Singaporean Gen Zs surveyed say they share their date itinerary and location with friends and fam. 

Nic: It’s a fun thing to check astrology signs, but I don’t think anyone in Singapore is thinking that is a deal breaker… right?  

Gwen: Idk, I think compatibility in astrology terms only serves to validate how you feel in your gut about that person. Like oh, I don’t think my Virgo energy will vibe with his Aries personality - like nah, you’re just not that into that person, and you’re looking for signs from the universe.  

Nic: If there’s one thing I learnt, it is that if your friends have the guts to open up to you about something negative with your partner, definitely take it into account. As a third party they can see things you’re not seeing. I definitely should have taken their advice on one or two of my past relationships…  

Gwen: As someone who has been on the other side - trying to get my friends to see their walking red flags of a partner, trust me when I say that your friends are not out to sabo you. If your friend takes the effort to raise the alarm, take it very, very seriously. And yes, I would encourage a friend who’s going on a date to share their location in the close friends group chat just so that we’ve got their back in case something untoward happens.  

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

5. Communication is queen 

In 2025, singles want trust, attraction, and shared values—no compromises. Clear, honest communication reigns, with nearly 45% of singles seeking a “Golden Retriever type”—loyal, friendly, and optimistic. 

Singles are prioritizing trustworthiness (40%), physical attraction (35%), shared values (31%), emotional availability (30%), and shared interests (28%). Meanwhile, the deal-breakers like bad hygiene (50%), rudeness (44%), and talking too much about an ex (34%). And while financial stability is valued, 22% of singles also want a partner who knows when to log off and set work boundaries. 

Closer to home, Singapore Tinder users say their preferred Communication Style is “Better in Person” and cite “Time Together” as the top Love Style. Additionally, “Having the Same Interests” was seen as the most important part of someone’s dating profile, according to a survey of Singapore Gen Z.
 

Nic: Am I the “Golden Retriever” type? Hahaha! 

Gwen: I will neither confirm nor deny this LOL. 

Nic: No surprise that “trustworthiness” is number 1. Truthfully, I feel that this should be the new baseline for all relationships - honesty is the best policy, so always tell what and how you feel - not sure if I am repeating myself constantly throughout but this is why my past relationships fail. And yeah, don’t bring up the past lah.  

Gwen: I think it’s distasteful to speak ill about one’s ex - unless they were genuinely a true dirtbag. But it really serves no purpose to air the dirty laundry of your past and may even work against you. 

Nic: What do you think about Singapore Tinder users preferring “Better in Person” and “Time Together” for dates? I did a long-distance relationship once and I’ll never do it again, so I am in complete agreement with our fellow Singaporeans.  

Gwen: Nothing against long distance relationships, but it is quite mentally and emotionally exhausting because you have to make time to spend time with the other person virtually, yet you’re not really reaping the benefits of the in-person connection. I think trying to make a long-distance relationship work from the onset is incredibly tough, so I would accept one if it’s a temporary situation and not a long-term thing.  

It’s also refreshing to see that the younger generation is prioritizing work-life boundaries, to the extent that they want their potential partner to emulate that value too. I don’t ever recall that being an important criteria when I was on the app.  

Nic: Yes, there is a life away from work (I’m looking at you, single friends).