Bumble’s new dating trend: ‘Oystering’

The world is your oyster! That sentiment is particularly true, if you’re a single person on a dating app.

A new phenomenon called “Oystering” refers to a lighthearted, optimistic attitude on Bumble, looking at the dating world as your “oyster.”

Now with COVID pandemic restrictions easing, singles are feeling more comfortable meeting others and getting back out there. According to Bumble, 46 per cent of Canadians are ready for a “dating reset.”

Alanna Lauren Greco with Bumble says this has led to the new dating trend of ‘Oystering.’

“Oystering encompasses the idea of seeing the world as your oyster after a breakup,” she explained. “It celebrates people living their best lives and living life to the fullest. Part of this is for the past two years, we’ve lived through a pandemic. That’s given people a lot of time to think about what they want, and think about their goals — that includes in relationships.”

Single people have had plenty of alone time to get comfortable in their solitude during the COVID-19 pandemic — which in turn, Greco says, is leading to people gaining a better understanding of themselves, and the types of relationships they want to cultivate.

“We’ve been cooped up, we’ve had the lockdowns, we’ve had this pandemic, and now people are ready for change — and what’s great is that the change that they’re looking for is this really positive one. They want to call the shots, they want to be in charge, and they want to be more empowered. That’s why we think that Oystering has become a recent phenomenon, and it’s impacted the way single Canadians are approaching their dating lives.”

Related articles:

• COVID vaccinations add a new aspect to dating

• COVID-19 spurs some positive changes in online dating behaviour

Rather than anxiety or the feeling of needing to rush to quickly find a partner, Greco says this new attitude towards dating shows Canadians are approaching post-pandemic dating with calmness, positivity, and self-respect.

“Oystering could be ‘I’m recently single, and I do NOT feel like dating a single person, and I’m NOT going to feel bad about it.’ Or, Oystering could be ‘I’m recently single, and I really do want to get married and have kids soon, and I’m looking for someone else who’s as serious about it.’ Finding out what works for you, and embracing it, and going for it.”

Greco says single people are more comfortable setting their standards high, respecting their own boundaries, and not settling for less — which she says is empowering.

“Now when people are single, they’re more comfortable taking charge of what they want in their dating life, who they want to go out with, when they want to go out with someone, and that goes back to the idea of, now they’re seeing the world as their oyster. It’s a really fun, positive dating trend that we’re excited about!” she said.

“It’s optimism, as well as the idea of saying ‘I know what I want.'”

According to Bumble, vaccination status is important to users. It says people who added a “Vaccination Badge” to their profile were able to increase their matches by 39 per cent in September. By December, that figure went up to 61 per cent.