Dating has a way of making the holiday season both brighter and…well, for some, more stressful. If you dove deep into the chaotic dating world of 2025, you might feel burnt out by the time Q4 rolls around. However, it seems things might be looking up going into 2026—at least, according to Tinder’s Year In Swipe 2025 report.

“Singles are looking for a connection that feels easy, honest, and a little bit fun,” said Melissa Hobley, Chief Marketing Officer at Tinder. “They’re done overthinking every message and overanalyzing every match.”

This is a pattern I can get behind. In fact, one of the newest dating trends is called hot-take dating, a values-based approach that promises more aligned connections and socially conscious decisions.

Let’s take a look.

What Is Hot-Take Dating?

According

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