When girls make a conscious decision to not date, it is termed as ‘boy sober’ — an internet trend very common among those who want to take a break from romance or relationships, which means no dating apps on phones, no situationships.
There are several reasons behind this: Either dating apps have lost trust and value, or, girls are experiencing a dating ‘burnout’. So when one is free of relationships, it can help focus on self-care, which means more time for a mindful morning walk in nature, journaling thoughts, reading your favourite author, practicing deep breathing, exercise and indulge in a rejuvenating spa session or turn to healthy eating and cooking.
Data also suggests that many have lost interest in dating apps. What used to be a common feature, and quite a statement to ‘swipe right’, has now lost its sheen with certain kinds of daters, especially those who are of a younger demographic.
According to the dating app happn, as singles flock to their phones, they would like to live by choice and calculation.
In 2025, relationships are all about intentional love – calculated, deliberate, and rooted in shared goals. Now singles believe in the art of taking out time in a world that moves too fast. 2025 will also see singles embrace a more relaxed approach to dating. Rather than diving into the deep end right away, over 80% of singles prefer not to rush into relationships, suggests a report published by happn.
Online data says even Gen-Zs are opting out, being more critical of what these apps have to offer. So the right way to use technology is by making friends offline.
As per 2023 consumer data research conducted by Statista, daters in the US between the ages of 30 and 49, who are mostly millennials, make up 61% of dating app users, whereas Gen-Z comes in at only 26%.
As per online dating app Hinge, and its 2024 DATE (Data, Advice, Trends and Expertise) report, many Gen-Z daters cite fear of rejection and being cringe amongst their top concerns.
The 2025 happn report says, flexibility is queen, with 71% of happn users saying they value the freedom to define connections on their own terms. Open relationships (23%) and casual setups like sex friends (21%) are among the most explored options, proving singles are all about ditching the traditional dating playbook.
“The app reflects the evolution of dating,” says Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO & and president, happn.
“Taking out time from my busy routine is a big question,” says Noopur Yadav (name changed on request), who has tried her luck on dating apps for seven years now, but hasn’t been able to stick to one. “It is time-consuming and there is no commitment,” says the Pune-based engineer.
On the other hand, Yadav feels that self discovery may be good but it is also about making a commitment to yourself by not changing course.
For Mumbai-based Rita Razdan, these dating apps have become a breeding ground for harassment, or violence enabled by technology, which may include scammers, abusive behaviour, requests for or receipt of unsolicited sexual imagery, bullying, and even stalking. “My friends have witnessed this more often, so it is best to turn ‘boy sober’. It sounds clichéd but meeting a friend in person or someone from a community is stress-free as there is less anxiety as compared to an app,” says the 25-year-old young graduate from Mumbai University.