We’re only weeks into 2026, but the New Year is already coming in hot with a new dating trend known as “hot take dating.” Tinder’s Year in Swipe report that came out last month predicted it would be big and it’s already starting to take over.
“Hot take dating” is basically the opposite of all the dating advice we’ve heard before about avoiding touchy topics — like politics and religion – with people we just met. Instead, the trend encourages people to get real and share those opinions right off the bat, especially the controversial ones.
- The idea is that by being upfront about your views from the start, you’ll better filter out those who aren’t a good match for you, but the strategy does have some downsides.
- So, why is “hot take dating” becoming a thing now? For one, people have “hot takes” on just about everything these days on social media.
- The political climate adds to it, as Tinder’s report shows that 37% of singles consider shared values essential for dating and 41% say they’re not willing to date someone with opposing political views.
- While sharing your opinions on a first date can weed out those who disagree with you, it could be a turn-off for some, so you have to be okay with that.
"By sharing your most extreme viewpoints, it's very easy to come off as an extreme person,” explains dating coach Blaine Anderson. “And most people, as a matchmaker what I see, aren't looking to date somebody in the extremes. Where ‘hot take dating’ can go wrong is giving the illusion that you are rigid or inflexible in your views." But if you remember it’s a date, not a debate, and try to be respectful, the ‘hot take dating’ trend could work for you.
Source: USA Today