Singapore's dating culture can fall flat, especially when it comes to Generation Z (and millennials), who use dating sites to find first dates more easily than older generations.
one Reddit user She posted about her experience on Hinge and Bumble, which read: “We can do very well and still be oppressed after weeks of chatting; One boy stalked me in my house, disturbed my neighbors for 3 nights in a row, and wanted to marry me after the first date. 5 Other Boys Who Simply Blocked and Hide After about weeks of conversation just because things aren't going well (aka hinting at sex) can go from “I'm looking for a partner for life” to “Tell me your fantasies”, I'm in bed now.“
However, a recent study by Bumble of over 40,000 Gen Z and Millennial singles worldwide, including those in Singapore, shows that singles are not giving up on their search for love – 80% of Singaporean singles are determined to find For a long-term partner in their life. Next year – but the styles of relationships change in a noticeable way. For example, a recent survey conducted by Indeed Lunch in Singapore showed that 70% of Single men (compared to 56% five years ago) Are willing to date older women than before.
Trends in 2025 will be like:
Micromance
According to a Bumble study, 39% of women in Singapore feel that a lack of romance has negatively impacted their love life. But that doesn't mean men don't feel pressure.
one Redditor He expressed his frustration:The last date I went on was with this woman who complained that every date was boring and this was the last date she was going to try. But she proceeded to make 0 effort stating that it was very easy and that everything would be fine. He then proceeded to complain and say it was boring that we just went out to eat. Hello, we have just met for the first time. It's tiring for men too. I'm not even 30, and I think I should give up“.
Perhaps this is why the idea of “romance” has shifted from grand gestures to “micro-romances” — small, meaningful acts like sending memes, making playlists, or sharing personal stories. Singaporean singles agree that these small moments are now essential to showing love and affection Reddit user Knock: “It warms my heart when the guy I'm talking to sends me message hints and sends stuff (TikTok/articles) my way. Stick to it, the people you can connect with will definitely appreciate the gesture.
Live broadcast dates
Dating has become our new reality show, with everything from live-streamed GRWMs and breakups to post-dating debriefs and relationship “tests.” This openness is having a positive impact, with half of Singaporean singles embracing authentic content that shows both the highs and lows of dating and making them feel more optimistic about their love lives.
Check out a snippet of this reality show where a guy asks a girl out during the live broadcast:
Let's face it: we're all pretty people, so watching others go on dates is definitely something we'd love to watch!
Fan club together
Shared passions have become a major factor in dating, with niche interests like book clubs, fandom (like TayTay and LISA!), thrifting, and blind boxes becoming popular in 2025. For more than half of Singaporean singles, having unique hobbies makes a person more attractive. Then again, it stands to reason that participating in social activities or communities not only makes you more interesting, but also helps you meet like-minded people.
One Redditor attests to this The importance of having something in common: “The real test seems to be the ability to engage through writing… Back in the day, there was an edgy 'intellectual' site that had a personal section, and that's where his buddies and I met – no pictures, just writing. We're both a wall of text, readers and writers, so this worked for us“.
Man's best friend
There is a growing trend for a male best friend to become an essential part of your dating support system. In Singapore, 59% of women rely on male friends to help decipher men's dating behavior, and 22% of them ask to filter potential dates!
Another reason slim You have male friends:I spent my university days doing well at school and starting my career – I didn't think much about the men around me or put the spotlight on a romantic partner over any of them hahaha Now they're all brothers and things are going to get weird if there's anything to stir up there“.
Male casting
Male archetypes—from the little girl, to the financial bro, to the hunk—have become popular in popular culture, sparking further discussions about ideal traits and stereotypes. Men feel these tropes often lead to false assumptions, while more than half of women believe it's time the conversation around masculinity evolves.
Sexism is something that is ingrained in us as a society, and you can read about it This study To learn more.
The downside of the dating app
A common complaint when dating online is a lack of communication skills: “Bad matches come with The usual flavours: Poor conversation skills, lack of interest, and inability to be honest about whether they want to continue or not (for those who advance to the meeting stage).”
Then there's the perennial problem many dating apps face: men often get fewer matches than women. “Men get much fewer matches Because normal women don't pass over normal men. Above average men get a lot of matches from women, especially women below their league level, and it is easy to get sex from these women because the women are desperate to cling to these men and give up easily.“
Above all, safety is paramount when using dating sites, as a Redditor Throw RAaccount-00 Stocks:”I told people that I don't tell them my address because I'm afraid of stalkers and they became disbelieving. But it's true and it happens. I think some guys do immature things and emotionally weird things as a strategy to be emotionally manipulative, or maybe they think it puts them in a position to make a woman have feelings for them that are either good or bad, but that's my point“.
However, online dating is still a growing trend, because it provides plenty of options for “too many fish in the sea”. editor sundae He warns that searching for that “perfect person” in this sea is almost impossible: “Dating apps subconsciously push the idea of searching for the perfect match (i.e. appearance, values, goals, etc. should be almost 100% compatible) with all the options they provide. While this is good for quickly clearing up deals like debt or having or not having children, it leaves no room for compromises in other aspects of a person. There is no relationship that does not require effort from both parties to make it successful. Dating apps train us to say “I don't like this side of this person, maybe I should give up and find someone else” instead of “I don't like this side, is it something I'm willing to compromise on or ask the person to improve on?”“
For those looking for love — whether on apps or in person — here's a little quote to keep in mind: We don't learn to find the right person, we learn to love the right person.
