20 May,2026 02:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Dating doesn't always come with rainbows, butterflies and a successful relationship. Sometimes, it ends in a valuable lesson. But, in the dating world, the ending has always been something dramatic and more often than not, bitter. Mountain of unread messages, abrupt disappearance, stonewalling, the end always came with resentment. However, the young daters are all about rewriting the preset rules and they are doing the same with the rules of rejection.
According to a survey by Indian dating app QuackQuack, about 51 per cent of dating app users from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities described it as the soft exit season, where daters don't end a connection on a sour note but rather deal with it like mature adults. They claimed that instead of explosive confrontations and ruthless exit strategies, the modern daters communicate disinterest more subtly without crushing the other person.
Nayanika, a 27-year-old from Pune, said, "I have been in the shoes of the rejected and the rejecter. It's not kind to be brutally honest about your disinterest; it works faster but fast is not the only option. We are living in the times of meaningful and intentional connections. I believe the ending should be emotionally aware too."
The study was conducted from January to April 2026, among 9,347 users from metros and smaller cities. Participants ranging between 23 and 35 took the survey. The in-depth analysis of the data collected shows that singles across India have adopted a much softer exit approach, and their behavior brings a major shift in the dating world.
The app's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "The emotional quotient of our users doesn't just show in how they match, but also how they disconnect when things don't go the way they expected. Daters from metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, where people have a generally hectic lifestyle, and they tend to be more fast-paced, also ensure that while rejecting someone, they are being kind and taking it slow. Modern daters' focus on mental health and introspection made it possible for even exit to look kinder."
For several years, ruthless ghosting has tormented the dating world. Suddenly disappearing without explanation or taking accountability seemed like the easiest way to sever ties. But that was before the rise of emotionally aware intentional dating. According to the survey report, 48 per cent of users today choose a much softer form of exit: rejection that looks kind and is less emotionally damaging. About 7 in 10 dating singles explained that they prefer to gradually reduce interaction instead of going cold turkey. They intentionally delay replies, shorten the conversation length, and politely distance themselves from a match they are uninterested in, instead of following the cut-off and block method that has disrupted many singles' mental health. Moreover, ending things with an explanation is becoming the norm now.
The survey shows an interesting pattern: 39 per cent of women from Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata, and 31 per cent of men from Pune, Kochi, and Ahmedabad are following the "nice avoidance" trend while exiting a connection. The trend allows people to avoid brutal honesty; instead of directly saying, "not interested", 8 in 10 daters choose softer cues. There's been a rise in "I am working on myself right now", "I am not the right fit currently", and more "I" related terms to end things. Indian singles are taking responsibility, and their "I" statement usually stems from self-awareness. Ajay, a 29-year-old content creator, said, "Vague exits are mean. So is humiliating someone. I don't like someone back, so the issue is me. I should take responsibility and, at the same time, protect myself. I think nice avoidance works the best for that."
The middle ground of online breakups is soft ghosting, says over 44 per cent of Indian singles between 22 and 28 years. Unlike traditional ghosting, there's no disappearing act. It's more about slowly fading away, but also keeping some contact, like occasionally checking in on them, or liking a post. The idea is to still be in the person's life, but with a different dynamic. The survey shows that the trend is especially followed by young men.
