Everyone tries to make the best first impression when it comes to dating, but new research suggests maybe that’s not the best approach. According to a survey from the dating app Plenty of Fish, three in four singles agree that embracing your “cringe” and being true to yourself will help you find your ideal partner.
The poll of 2-thousand millennial and Gen Z singles commissioned by Plenty of Fish and conducted by OnePoll finds:
- A third say their “cringey” habits should be embraced, instead of avoided.
- Nearly two-thirds (63%) agree that embracing their cringe can help them find “The One.”
- Close to half (47%) consider themselves more cringe than cool and two in three say it’s attractive when dates embrace their cringe.
- When a date shares things they “nerd out” about, like personal passions or a niche hobby, 74% find it attractive.
- It seems a lot of singles are all about authenticity, as 73% say they’re not afraid to reveal things about themselves that could be considered cringe on a first date.
- While 68% of singles claim they usually feel self-confident before a first date, 73% feel more confident if they both share cringes beforehand.
- Dating behaviors that were once considered cringe, but are now considered cool include talking about fandoms early on (55%), being direct about dating intentions (51%), not playing hard to get (46%), being passionate about a niche sport or hobby (43%) and calling a potential date on the phone (35%).
- Singles agree that some things are still considered cringey, like mainstream interests or hobbies (59%) and awkward or embarrassing interactions (49%).
- But bad manners are considered a red flag and a definite deal breaker for 54% of singles.
Source: SWNS Digital