Keeping up with the millennial dating trends: from Ghosting to Bird-boxing

Remember when ‘ghosting’ became a thing? The term had caused quite a stir as singletons everywhere realised that this tricksy form of behaviour – whereby someone you’re dating ceases all communication without warning or justification – was common enough to have a legit name! A number of questions were answered and this newfound sense of vindication, began flourishing ever since, as different versions continue to emerge.

There are a number of additions added to the millennial dating glossary.From orbiting and curving to benching and bread-crumbing, dating has become more of a rhetorical challenge than a romantic one. Here are all the new dating terms you need to know in this ‘millennial dating era’.If you’re single, this might help you prepare for your next liaison. If you aren’t, but basking in the glory of coupled up bliss, read along and tell yourself that your’e lucky that you don’t have to ‘go out there again.'

Bird-Boxing

Yes, this term is quite clearly inspired from Netflix’s post-apocalyptic thriller Bird Box. Much like the film, which sees Sandra Bullock struggle to survive wearing a blindfold at all times, the concept of bird boxing refers to “when someone is blind to how rubbish the person they’re dating is”. 

Orbiting

Firstly, lets establish the fact that orbiting has absolutely nothing to do with the moon or the planets. Orbiting means when someone ghosts you but still engages with you on social media. To give a better insight into what it means, a flagrant orbiter might ignore your phone calls, but watch your Instragram stories. They will block you on WhatsApp but retweet your latest meme. They are, in essence, playing mind games. Do not let them win.

Curving

This is again a brand new addition to the dating dictionary. Curving came onto the scene by last November as “the new way to reject someone.” Described as “rejection with a smile”, curving is a way of letting someone down without explicitly telling them you’re no longer interested. Now it is different from ghosting, as ignoring your text asking to “hang out” — is ghosting –  whereas, a curver will reply, only it will be several days later. They will say "sorry", they’ll tell you they’d “love to see you” but work has “been crazy” and they’re “just so bad with they’re phone”. The truth is that it doesn’t matter whether they’ve been "really busy" buying groceries or boiling the kettle, this is 2019, no one is that bad on their phone.

Bread-crumbing

Bread-crumbing is essentially a fancy name for stringing someone along. It’s sending a genial “Hey, how’s it going?” text with no intention of continuing the conversation. It’s suggesting a date without making a plan. It’s telling someone they looked “damn hot” in their latest Instagram photo but screening their phone calls and texts.A Bread-crumber is tactical: they want to leave little nuggets for you so you think they're still interested. But do not let them fool you. They'd keep you around just to see you squirm which will boost their ego.

Kittenfishing

Coined by an online dating website, this is essentially a diet version of catfishing: when someone pretends to be a completely different person online.Unlike a catfish, who might have structured up a whole new identity, a kittenfish’s tactics could be as simple as using a profile photo on a dating app that is a few years old, or heavily edited.In most cases, it’s a fairly harmless way of trying to promote the best version of yourself to potential dates.

R-bombing

Do not confuse this one with ghosting as R-bombing is when someone reads your message but doesn’t reply. This doesn't mean that you wont hear from them again, but they will ignore the texts they don't deem interesting enough.Such people are not only rude, but they’re also deeply arrogant, putting their time above yours by thinking your message doesn’t warrant a response.

Zombieing

So the person ghosted you for a while. You might have been ignored or blocked, suddenly you get a text which says, “Hi, sorry for the lack of communication. Want to do something this week?” Buckle up folks! This is no ghost but a zombie! Zombieing is when one person ghosts another, only to return “from the dead” a bit later and get in touch, like a zombie.

Instagrandstanding

This one common tactic which is trending these days. Basically, it is about tailoring your Instagram feed with another person in mind in the hope that your posts might capture their attention. Posting a picture of something they hated when you did or a picture of yourself in an outfit they once complimented you on.

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