Singaporeans are busy folk, but that isn’t deterring hopeful singles from finding love, or couples from keeping the flame alive. Nope, having “no time to date” isn’t a good excuse anymore, and there are still sneaky lil’ ways to let love blossom. It’s all about priorities, and despite everything, Singaporeans still love love.
Micro-dating trend in Singapore
According to the experts from dating app Bumble, Singaporeans are finding new ways of building and maintaining romantic connections in today’s modern dating world, and one of these is micro-dating – an emerging trend where people, especially younger adults, are using shorter, uninterrupted pockets of time to go on dates or hang out with their partners.
It’s worth noting that 60 percent of Singaporeans’ dates still last an average of two hours, according to Bumble, but the overall average duration of dates is on the decline. This is especially so for the Gen Z population, who are more likely to plan dates that last less than 30 minutes.
To the traditionalists, this might sound a little dismal, but fact is, mindsets are changing – and micro-dating can have more benefits than you might think. For one, it still gives you a shot at love as opposed to not going on dates at all. Besides, people are now more decisive on what they’re looking for in a partner, and a shorter date duration would then give you the opportunity to see if you’re compatible with a potential match with less investment and less pressure. If there's something worth exploring there, great. If not, one can quickly cut their losses and move on in search of a better match. You could say that it’s a more efficient approach to dating, which checks out with how fast-paced everything else is in Singapore.
Top three micro-dating activities in Singapore:
- Having a quick lunch (62 percent)
- Grabbing a coffee (59 percent)
- Taking a short walk (50 percent)
Meihui Chen, APAC Communications Lead at Bumble, weighs in, “[Micro-dating is] a sign that finding a partner is still a priority for Singaporeans, and that we are willing to explore new ways to date to make it happen. Quality time spent is a powerful love language, and while they may be shorter, these micro-moments can make good opportunities to have quick check-ins with one another to build meaningful connections over time”.
Micro-mance in Singapore
In a similar vein, micro-mance is also swiftly becoming a common dating trend amongst couples in Singapore, where lovebirds show their affection for each other through smaller gestures instead of big, showy ones. This could include actions like sharing memes and inside jokes, curating a playlist for your significant other, or little thoughtful acts such as surprising them with their favourite bubble tea order.
Bumble states that 89 percent of Singaporean singles agree that these are all great ways to show love and affection to one’s partner – so you can heave a sigh of relief knowing that it doesn’t always have to be about massive 100-rose bouquets or expensive jewellery. Not that we'd complain about receiving fancy gifts from time to time.
With Singapore being one of the most expensive cities in the world, locals are definitely feeling the pinch in all aspects of life, and this naturally includes dating as well. Micro-mance thus helps offset the financial strain of dating inflation, with more couples turning to free date activities or choosing to spend quality time together at home. Speaking of which, check out our compilation of the best free date ideas in Singapore if you need some inspiration for fun couple outings that won't put a strain on your bank account.
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