A new survey found that over 57 per cent of daters have boarded some form of 'ship' that isn’t the plain old relationship
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: istock
Love comes in different ‘ships’ and sizes these days because gone are the days of single or taken, as the dating world is constantly evolving. A new survey shows that modern love is not defined by simple relationships, it's the world of infinite possibilities.
Indian dating app QuackQuack's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, “We are in the revolutionary age of dating; every connection made has a meaning today, and they are divided into bite-sized categories. It’s modern, it’s even messy, but it is still made of very real feelings. Relationships that don’t fit into traditional boxes are no longer considered meaningless.”
The app surveyed 11923 daters from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, all between the ages of 18 and 30. Participants were selected from different educational and professional fields, aiming for a more conclusive study. The poll found that over 57 per cent of daters have boarded some form of ship that isn’t the plain old relationship.
Situationship: Not as toxic after all
In India, 2 in 7 active daters from Tier 1 cities revealed being in a situationship last year alone. They defined it as an undefined connection built on pure chemistry and confusion, with a hint of commitment issues. For long, situationships were considered a toxic pattern, only to be recently debunked as a more pressure-free connection, a trial relationship, as mentioned by several participants. Arun, a Mumbai-based photographer, said, “I travel a lot for work and committing is not really possible for me right now. I have been in a situationship with someone for a while, and trust me, it’s not toxic at all. Like I am committed to the idea that once I settle down somewhere, I will be exclusive with her, but right now, I still get to form a better relation with her, without the pressure of labeling it a relationship.”
The Nanoship: Blink and you might miss it
Gen Z prefers to dip their toe in before diving, and nothing beats a 'Nanoship' for testing if a connection can hold its own. About 27 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 admitted to having been in a nanoship. They claimed that it can either end in a relationship or end because the vibes didn’t match, but either way, it never ends in bitterness. 24-year-old Tammy said, “I was moving to a different city, and I was ready to start a relationship once I settled there. So, I went on a few dates before, two of which ended in a nanoship, and that was the best way I learned that I do not like an overly clingy partner, or someone who expects to be in touch 24/7. The next one was a proper relationship, and it worked out perfectly.”
Fanship: Crushing from afar
18 per cent men from metros and suburbs admitted to being in a Fanship with a match for over six months. They explained the connection as a deep admiration, but from afar and without any interaction, mostly for the fear of ruining things. It is almost always one-sided. Pritam, a 28-year-old doctor, joked, “I am guilty of being in a fanship; let me tell you, it is mostly fed by delusion that everything will align and things will magically work out with this person. Reality is: it won’t, but it’s fun to hope and have that one perfect, and of course, imaginary, relationship amid all the chaos of life.”
Microship: It’s fleeting but hyper
Daters from metros over 25 said 'Microship' is often confused with nanoship, but there’s one key difference: the intensity of everything. It burns bright and fast, and the micro nature of the connection is often unintentional, but once the pattern is noted, daters become more cautious not to repeat the same.
3 in 7 women disclosed being in a microship at least once in their entire dating timeline, and it typically lasts somewhere between 1 and 3 weeks. The intimacy is accelerated; couples start trauma dumping by day two, or share their deepest secret by the end of the week. Sharing too much too fast is usually what leads to its inevitable demise, and the collapse of the microship becomes predictable with each late reply or sudden lack of interest after hours of chatting. Ananya (29) said, “It’s a very low-calorie commitment. Even with all that trauma bonding and closeness illusion, the commitment level remains at a bare minimum because you actually don’t know each other. Plus, it can get very overwhelming once you get all that information crammed in such a little time.”
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