Single people who’ve been ghosted or sent an unsolicited nude photo — you’re not alone.
A new poll revealed that nearly half of the single people asked have been victims of nasty dating etiquette.
The dating app Plenty of Fish created a survey along with a dating guide in partnership with life coach Michelle Elman to help single people avoid “undesirable dating behaviors and engineer more positive experiences.”
“Helping daters understand and navigate different behaviors on their dating journey is something I’m really passionate about, which is why I’ve partnered with Plenty of Fish to create the Desirable Dating Guide,” Elman told the Sun. “The guide highlights some of the negative behaviors and experiences that can occur in the dating world, while also shining a light on how singles can enact some positive change.”
According to the survey, which sampled nearly 4,000 British singles, 48% of respondents said that they received unsolicited nude photos from a match or date — with 45% of the 48% revealing that it made them feel disgusted.
“Sending unsolicited nudes is an aspect of dating that really must change,” said Elman. “Women, in particular, often worry they will be judged for not being receptive to such requests and this creates a pressured environment.”
The survey stated that the average app user usually receives an average of five unsolicited nude images during their dating history.
Another hot topic in the dating survey is ghosting: the act of suddenly disappearing without warning. The survey found that 43% of daters have been ghosted and 40% have been stood up for a date.
Bad dating behaviors are pushing more people to use discernment when considering whether they should meet up in real life. In an effort to make their dating life a more positive experience, nearly 46% of people surveyed said that they are now trusting their gut and ending the conversation if there are any doubts about their match.
Not all dating experiences are negative ones. Over half of the respondents, 69%, claim that they want dating apps to continue to promote positive behaviors between members.
Singles are also focused on how their dating profiles reflect their personality. Nearly 44% of people surveyed said that they attempt to portray themselves in a true and authentic way, while 38% say they strive to make their profile as accurate as possible.
A whopping 82% of respondents claim that self-improvement (working out, more sleeping, spending less time online, etc.) has led them to greater self-awareness and success while dating.
And since safety is a concern when meeting strangers online, Plenty of Fish recently released a new feature called “share my date” where users can share important details of their date and whereabouts with a trusted contact.
“Providing a welcoming dating destination for singles is of the utmost importance to us,” said Shannon Smith, resident dating expert at Plenty of Fish.
“The realities of dating can bring lots of highs and lows, but we believe it should be a fun experience. Dating is an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and get out of your comfort zone.
“We created the Desirable Dating Guide to continue important conversations in dating and remind singles that they should never accept less than they deserve while looking for love,” continued the dating expert.
The dating guide offers singles advice, including how to have a successful first date. Their top tips for a great date included actively listening, keeping phones away and not oversharing.