Bumble, the women-first dating app, recently released its 2023 Dating Trends, which highlighted the top six trends that all those looking to date can watch out for in the new year. With life close to what it was like pre-pandemic, save for the facemasks in our bags just in case, hundreds and thousands are already making the first move.

In fact, according to Bumble’s 2022 Year in Review, over half a billion first moves were made on Bumble last year, from January up until November. Leading the tone in the way we view dating, Bumble also shares that a whopping 70% of people around the world say they feel positive about the romance that lies ahead*. Among these are Filipinos who are the most positive (87%) about dating in 2023 as compared to their global counterparts.

As we embrace this newfound hope in finding the right healthy connections, Bumble shares new year dating tips on how you can Bumble Better this 2023:

Be intentional about what you’re looking for

As we become more mindful of the way we approach dating, it’s important to make your intentions clear and be transparent about the type of relationship you want to build. On Bumble, people can use the “Date Intentions” advanced Badge and Filter which allows them to choose between a relationship, something casual, and marriage when sharing what they are looking for or matching with a potential Bumble date. This feature can help narrow down your search and make your dating experience more meaningful.

Be curious and ask thoughtful questions

Keep the conversation flowing and find out if you have chemistry with your Bumble match by asking thoughtful questions. Bumble offers the Question Game right within the app, which is designed to help you get to know your match better by mutually answering questions. You can choose from a wide range of fun and playful questions. In 2022, Bumble saw that the most popular questions asked in the Philippines via the Question Game were:

• What is your go-to comfort food?
• What’s the first thing you find attractive in someone?
• Which emoji describes your current mood?
• What would you do on a rainy Sunday?
• Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Keep an open mind but don’t be oblivious to the red flags

It’s important to be open-minded and feel excited as you think about starting a relationship or finding a potential partner. At the same time, it can be easy to overlook the red flags when you start talking to someone and feel that there’s strong chemistry. Always be mindful and ask yourself these important questions: Are they moving too fast, too soon? Are they genuinely interested in what you have to say? Make sure to look out for dating red flags as you kick off your dating journey and meet new people.

Consider dating outside of your ‘type’

It can be easy to stick to the same type of person when dating. Instead, consider stepping outside of your comfort zone and broadening the scope of people you’d consider dating. According to Bumble’s dating trends survey, (38%) of global respondents are now more open to who they consider dating beyond their ‘type’ and 1 in 4 (28%) are placing less emphasis on dating people that others ‘expect’ them to. Specifically, in the Philippines, the overwhelming majority (77%) are now more focused on emotional maturity than physical requirements.

Pace yourself and enjoy the journey

It’s easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself when it comes to dating. Remember that at the end of the day, dating should be a fun journey that helps you learn more about yourself and find the relationship that works for you. Always prioritize cultivating and maintaining a good mental space for yourself while dating.

Finally, make yourself stand out

Now that you’re ready to take charge of your dating life and practice these expert-backed new year dating tips, put your best foot forward by creating an eye-catching and winning Bumble profile that will help you find the perfect match.

• Use an updated photo of yourself! Make sure you show the world your authentic self.
• Sometimes a photo is not enough! Vamp up your highlight reel with showing exciting slices of your life experiences.
• Supplement your photo and highlight reel with a solid bio! Make use of Bumble badges to share your story across. Based on those who adopted Interest Badges in the Philippines in 2022, some of the top interest topics were “Cafe-hopping”, “Coffee”, “Video games”, “Photography”, and “Anime”.

The new year holds many promises, and you can make the most of what it has to offer. Resolve to take charge of your dating life in 2023 with Bumble by your side!