Have you ever spent weeks or months texting someone, only to realise that they were just “seeing where it goes” while you were looking for something real? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
That awkward “Are we, or are we not?” phase has led to one of the most dreaded dating trends of recent years- “Situationships”. You’re talking, you’re vibing, but nothing’s clear. Before you know it, months have passed, and you still don’t know what’s happening.
But what if we told you that it is gradually being replaced by a newer trend that holds the potential to guillotine your Situationships once and for all?
Well, good news! It’s here, and can really help you cut all the noise in your pursuit of finding a suitable partner.
It’s called “Loud Looking”, which has been gaining traction since late 2024.
What is Loud Looking?
To put it simply, Loud Looking is being brutally honest about your dating intentions and your personality from the very beginning. It is putting forth what you expect from your partner, and being unapologetically yourself.
It encourages you to articulate your preferences. No sugarcoating, no vague hints.
Remember that Aryan on a Dating App who had mentioned “Figuring out my dating goals” on his profile, when in reality it was you who had to figure out what he really wanted?
Well, when you’re Loud Looking, you don’t really have time for those Aryans.
No more decoding mixed signals. You say what you want- loud and clear; right from the start.
And that my friend, is what exactly Loud Looking is.
Why are people choosing Loud Looking?
Wasn’t the hatred towards endless talking stages and textuationships an open secret? It wasn’t just you.
In a research conducted recently by Bumble, they found that singles started rejecting their search for “the one” and instead started embracing compatibility and shared values. Moreover, they predict that in 2025, women are going to be more clear with what they want, and won’t just accept breadcrumbing from their matches.
This was concretised by data, as around 64% of women participants in their survey responded that they’re no longer making compromises when it comes to dating intentions.
This is complemented by a growing practical approach taken by women when it comes to finding love.
In another survey conducted in India, it was found that for women, compatibility mattered the most when finding love, even surpassing romance.
Yes, you heard that right.
For around 39% of women surveyed, compatibility mattered the most, while romance mattered only for 29% of the respondents.
The verdict is clear then, we’re transitioning towards more transparency in relationships, and dating confusion has no place in 2025.
So how can you implement Loud Looking in your Dating Strategy?
The first step for bringing this theory into practice is to be self-aware. You should sit down and ask yourself what specifically you are looking for and what your deal-breakers are.
While you must venture on this on your own, we can help you provide a checkbox for reference to gain clarity.
For Loud Looking, you must ask yourself these three questions and arrive at a lucid answer:
1. What are my relationship goals?
2. What are my partner preferences?
3. What are the non-negotiables?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you arrive at the most important step- to communicate these to others as clearly as possible.
Put it in your bio. Be upfront in conversations. If someone’s not aligned? Move on. It’s that simple.
Make sure that the other person gets to know who you really are, instead of what you think they’d like.
But isn’t that how it always is? Why are we telling you this?
That’s because a study found that when women talk to men on Dating platforms, they not only pay attention to whether the person meets their criteria, but also that they themselves meet the men’s preferences.
But it’s time to stop doing that. It’s time to be more authentic.
It’s okay if you start getting fewer matches due to these changes, but at least those who you match with would be better aligned with you than others.
But Loud Looking isn’t just about your behaviour on Dating Apps, it has the potential to make substantive changes in the nature of the relationships.
The impact of Loud Looking on relationships
Two of the tenets of Loud Looking are: Transparency and Communication.
They’re not simply the constituents of this trend, but also the key to more meaningful relationships based on mutual understanding.
Studies show that a lot of people in relationships feel unsatisfied because of poor communication and uncertainty about the future.
This could change, if people were more honest and expressive about their emotions and expectations.
So, Loud Looking doesn’t merely change the way we look for partners, but also sets the premise for relationships built on better communication. It removes the uncertainty and mind games, and nurtures relationships built on honesty and authenticity.
If we were to summarise how impactful this trend really could be, we’d do so by comparing it with the game of Snakes and Ladders.
If your dating experience were a game of Snakes and Ladders, Loud Looking is the ladder to instantly take you to your destination and save you from tens of snakes lurking around.
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