Dating Is a Game Now

Once upon a time, dating meant searching for the one. Now, especially among Gen Z in cities like Delhi and Gurgaon, it’s about the moment. Swipes have replaced chance encounters, bios have replaced small talk, and “matching” feels more like unlocking a level than meeting someone. The rise of every new dating app in India has made finding love look like a side quest. You scroll, you match, you chat and before anything real happens, the vibe’s gone. No wonder every week, Gen Z invents a new term to make sense of it all.

If you’re struggling to keep up, here’s your field guide to the latest dating trends straight from the trenches of online love.

Shrekking

Inspired by the green ogre himself.
Meaning: showing up as your most unfiltered self early on, no filters, no pretense, to test if someone actually likes you.

Think Crocs on a first date, zero-makeup selfies, or voice notes that sound like chaos. It’s Gen Z’s way of saying “take me as I am,” something older generations rarely dared to do.

Banksying

Just like the artist, mysterious and fleeting.
Meaning: dating anonymously or keeping your identity vague online until things feel real.

You’ll see it everywhere on Delhi dating apps, no surnames, no tags, just vibes. It’s privacy mixed with curiosity, and it drives people insane.

Nanoship

A relationship shorter than a Netflix trial period.
These are the micro-romances that start on every free dating app, feel intense for three days, and disappear by the weekend.

The emotions are real, even if the relationship never was.

Cushioning

Keeping backup options “just in case.” One main connection, a few “cushions” on the side.
It’s the emotional equivalent of keeping food delivery apps open even after you’ve ordered.

Modern dating runs on this fear of missing out, and that’s why so many people quietly juggle chats instead of committing.

Loud Crushing

This one’s all about public obsession. Your crush is everywhere, stories, playlists, cryptic captions.
It’s the Gen Z version of holding a boombox under someone’s window except on Instagram.

And honestly? It’s kind of refreshing. At least someone’s being bold.

Micro-Mance

Tiny gestures that feel romantic but never evolve into dates.
A comment here, a heart reaction there, an inside joke that never turns real.
It’s low effort, low risk, and ironically highly addictive.

Freak Matching

When two people connect purely because their weirdness aligns.
It’s less about shared goals, more about shared chaos.
If your humor’s dark and your memes are worse, this one’s for you.

What This Really Says About Dating

All these trends prove one thing: dating today is hyper-connected but emotionally detached. People are curating chemistry instead of feeling it. Whether you’re on a girl dating app, a luxe dating platform, or still swiping through the “best dating app India” lists, you probably feel it too, the fatigue. That’s why so many singles in Delhi and Gurgaon are skipping screens and heading to meetups and mixers instead. Because real connection doesn’t trend. It lasts.

Where Vouch Comes In

At Vouch, we’re turning dating back into something human. No algorithms, no vanity metrics, just curated Events where people meet through shared experiences. Our mixers aren’t typical dates. They’re spaces where personalities shine through laughter, not profile pictures. You show up as yourself and that’s enough.

So if you’re tired of navigating trends, try something timeless. Join our next Vouch Event in Delhi or Gurgaon.

Because while Gen Z might keep inventing names for dating behavior, real chemistry still needs a real room.