The field guide to modern dating

Dating changed. Here is how it works now.

The words people use, the apps people actually use, the events worth leaving the house for, and what to do on the date itself. Independent, tested by us, updated monthly.

Glossary

Situationship, breadcrumbing, love bombing, the ick. 44 terms, plain definitions, what to do about it.

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Dating apps

Every major app scored on the same five things. Filter by country, price and how serious it is.

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Events

Speed dating, singles dinners, activity nights. City by city, with dates, prices and our verdict.

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The date

Questions that actually start a conversation, ideas by city, and how to end it well.

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New this week

News Feeld grew revenue 31.5% in 2025, mostly outside the UK
Feeld Ltd's group revenue rose 31.5% to £64.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2025, according to audited accounts filed with Companies House on September 30, 2026. Sales outside the UK made up 87.0% of that revenue, by the accounts' own country split, and profit for the year was £8.9 million.
Glossary DDF
DDF means drug and disease free, a personal-ads abbreviation now on hookup apps. It is a claim about the writer and a request to the reader. HIV language guides list "clean" as inappropriate and "sexually transmitted disease" as outdated, and a result dates from the test. CDC advises testing and sharing results, so ask when, and for what.
Glossary ENM (ethical non-monogamy)
ENM stands for ethical non-monogamy, an umbrella for relationships where everyone involved knows and agrees. Researchers say CNM, consensual non-monogamy. Hinge and Tinder made non-monogamy a profile option in 2022 and 2023. How common it is depends on what you count: 34% of 1,000 US adult citizens polled by YouGov in 2023 called their ideal something other than complete monogamy.

On the date

First date questions · Date ideas by city · How long should a first date be · Who pays

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Online dating

Profile photos that work · Opening lines · Staying safe · How to meet people without apps

All online dating guides