As the temperatures drop and the festive season approaches, it signifies the arrival of cuffing season. This time of year often sees many single individuals intensifying their search for a temporary romantic partner to cozy up with during the colder months. However, experts are cautioning against a new perilous dating trend that has emerged.
While dating might already have its fair share of complications with terms like ‘zombied’ and ‘carouselling’ becoming commonplace, now there’s another trend to be mindful of. Claire Rénier, a romance expert from the dating app Happn, advises daters to be vigilant and recognize the warning signs of being ‘sledged.’
Contrary to the winter activity of sledging, this dating trend can leave you feeling more chilled than thrilled.
Claire Rénier elaborated on this phenomenon in a conversation with the Daily Star. She described ‘sledging’ as dragging someone along through the festive season with no intention of continuing the relationship past the new year.
Rénier remarked, “This can be toxic and a red flag. It plays with people’s emotions and fosters short-term satisfaction.”
The trend is particularly concerning for Gen Z, who need to be on the lookout for any indicators that they might be caught in a ‘sledging’ scenario.
A survey conducted by Happn among 600 individuals aged 18 to 25 revealed that 15 percent maintained a relationship they weren’t invested in, intending to end it after the holiday season.
Interestingly, 75 percent of those practicing ‘sledging’ decided to end their relationships in November but postponed the actual breakup until after Christmas.
Even more surprisingly, the remaining 25 percent planned to sledge and eventually leave their partner as early as August.
One might wonder about the motivations behind sledging. According to the study, the majority of sledgers, about 60 percent, engaged in this behavior primarily for sexual reasons. Half of them wanted companionship during the colder months, and nearly 40 percent sought to avoid loneliness during the festive season. A third aimed to escape inquiries about their single status, while 20 percent desired a companion for holiday gatherings.
Rénier emphasizes that despite the prevalence of the trend, individuals need not tolerate such behavior. “People shouldn’t be treated this way in what should be a loving and trusting relationship,” she explained. “Young people should find more authentic connections with people with shared locations and hobbies. This way they can find partners that are genuinely interested in them and sustain a relationship to last beyond just the winter.”
In addition to ‘sledging,’ there is another holiday-related dating trend to be wary of: ‘scrooging.’ As the name suggests, this behavior is not likely to spread holiday cheer.