10 August,2026 04:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Ghosting, situationships and breadcrumbing might have dominated the dating world for years but Indian Gen-Z is proactively recognising new trends and dating behaviours that aren't nearly as toxic but are definitely important to be identified and named.
A recent survey by Indian dating app QuackQuack, reveals new patterns, including the canon event, emotional layover, and dial-toning, that are quietly shaping the dating landscape.
The survey was conducted among over 10,000 active dating app users between the ages of 18 and 28 years, from metros, suburban, and rural regions of India. Participants were selected from diverse professional fields and in an equal division of male and female to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the trends.
The app's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "Time's moving and it would be foolish to remain outdated about the dating patterns. Not all trends identified by Gen-Z are toxic; some might just be a right-of-passage kind of dating behaviour but still, identifying them makes it easier to understand what you are dealing with and handle the situation with much more ease."
"I knew it wouldn't last, but I still went for it because it made me happy for a while." Over 3,945 respondents between 23 and 28 years of age said the same thing about at least one match. The survey shows that Gen-Z can sometimes value happiness more than the permanence of it. Nearly 4 in 10 women shared that they connected and dated with one match, knowing it would be a temporary commitment, only because they believed they needed to feel loved at that point in time, or the connection would teach them something valuable. The survey says that 27 per cent of men from Tier 1 and 2 cities revealed matching with someone completely opposite in nature to understand their own dealbreakers, and choosing passion over stability because they wanted to experience something worthwhile, even if it lasted for a short period.
Nivedita (25) from Delhi, said, "My canon event was matching, meeting, and dating this person who was of the exact opposite mentality and personality as mine. People ask me, then why did I choose him? I can only assume because it's important to date the wrong person to know what's right for you. In my case, I never made the same mistake again."
One not-so-toxic but silently sad trend that the participants highlighted is the Emotional Layover. About 37 per cent of participants over 25 years explained that some matches temporarily occupied emotional space, especially during times of loneliness, vulnerability, major transitions and crises in life. These users explained that while it doesn't always impact negatively, the connection is usually just a temporary layover and since the period is full of vulnerability, there is always a chance of being taken advantage of.
The survey further highlights that 22 per cent of singles also said that the connection feels incredibly intimate, but it's important to identify the emotional layover pattern of dating to ensure that it does not become a habit and continues repeating every time they face a crisis. 5 in 10 app users disclosed that they genuinely cared for the match but needed only temporary shelter, while 4 in 10 people admitted knowingly becoming someone's emotional layover, realising how much they needed care at that time.
Gen-Z has identified another lesser discussed behaviour where daters keep someone within their emotional reach but never completely giving in to the attraction. More than 45 per cent of dating singles from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru said that dial-toning is gaining traction in mostly Tier 1 cities where life is busier. Instead of letting go of a match that did not work out very well, they keep a tiny signal of availability going on; it can be watching their social media stories, reacting to a post one random day, or replying with emojis.
The app's survery said 55 per cent of participants between 18 and 26 years admitted to dial-toning a match for months, but they also clarified ending the cycle as soon as they recognized what they were doing. Another 19 years of dating singles above 26 years also added that they have dial-toned a match because the timing to take the next step did not seem right and they were waiting for the right moment; this was their way of keeping the connection just warm enough, without overwhelming it.
