Festive FOMO Is Changing Dating Habits, Survey Finds Nearly Half Of Singles Are Delaying Matches

Add as a preferred source on Google

The festive season often brings a shift in dating habits as celebrations, social gatherings and couples' plans fill up the calendar. Dating apps may see more activity during this period, but an increase in conversations does not necessarily translate into more relationships. Some singles are choosing to slow down, even when they come across someone who catches their interest.

Photo Credit: Image is AI-generated

A survey by dating app QuackQuack highlights this changing approach, with almost 49% of respondents saying they are intentionally delaying matches or commitment to avoid making decisions under festive pressure. From giving old matches another thought to resisting the temptation to reconnect with an ex, young daters appear to be navigating the season more cautiously.

More Dating App Activity Does Not Mean More Matches

The festive season can bring people closer, but it can also create a sense of urgency for singles. When friends are busy making plans with their partners, the desire to find someone to share those experiences with may influence how people approach dating.
However, QuackQuack's survey indicates that increased app activity is not necessarily leading to more matches.

Ravi Mittal, Founder and CEO of the dating app, pointed out a departure from the usual seasonal trend.

"Every year we see a spike in activity around this time, along with a rise in matches. But this year, the trend is looking different. While there's more traffic and more chats, the match rate has stayed the same, backing the claims of survey respondents who said that young daters are intentionally delaying matches and being extra cautious about not falling into the FOMO trap."

The findings suggest that although singles may be spending more time on dating apps during the festive season, they are not necessarily in a hurry to turn conversations into relationships.

Why Some Singles Are Giving New Matches More Time

Festive FOMO can influence attraction in unexpected ways. Someone who did not seem like a suitable match a few months ago might suddenly appear more appealing when friends are busy planning outings and celebrations with their partners.

According to the survey, more than 43% of women and 36% of men from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities related to the experience of mistaking temporary loneliness for romantic compatibility.

Arun, 31, from Kolkata, shared how this feeling changed his perspective on someone he had spoken to earlier.

"I chatted with someone a few months back and we did not click. Suddenly, when all my friends are making plans for this month, all the pandal hopping and everything with their GFs, I am feeling super single, and this same person started looking promising. I am assuming it's the FOMO and am definitely not going to commit right away. Let the season die down; we'll see how we feel then."

His experience highlights a common dating dilemma: distinguishing genuine attraction from the desire to have a partner during a season filled with social celebrations.

The Festive Season Can Bring Exes Back Into The Picture

New matches are not the only people singles may reconsider during the festive season. Familiar traditions, shared celebrations and memories of past festivals can bring former partners back to mind, sometimes making an old relationship seem more appealing in hindsight.

Another finding, highlighted by 4,372 respondents, suggests that festive FOMO does not always encourage singles to explore new connections. In some cases, it can draw them back towards an ex, even when there were valid reasons for the breakup.

The survey found that eight in 10 singles aged 23 to 30 said festival-related memories or familiar traditions could make them remember a past relationship more fondly. It also revealed that 17% of daters admitted to matching with their exes on the app, while 6% actually reconnected.

Nostalgia can be especially persuasive when people miss the routines and experiences they once shared with a partner. However, missing those moments does not necessarily mean the relationship itself deserves another chance.

The findings underline how festive emotions can shape dating decisions, whether singles are considering a new connection or revisiting someone from their past. Reflecting on why a relationship ended may help prevent temporary loneliness or nostalgia from influencing a long-term decision.

Photo Credit: Image is AI-generated

Nearly Half Of Daters Are Delaying Commitment

One of the clearest signs of this changing approach is the number of daters deliberately choosing to wait before making a commitment. More than 45% of respondents aged 27 to 35 said they were intentionally delaying commitment to a match or even postponing matching with someone compatible to avoid a FOMO-driven connection.

For some, the hesitation also stems from concerns about the attention a new relationship might attract during the festive season. Around 27% of respondents said a connection formed during this period could become a public spectacle before it had time to develop naturally.

Questions from friends, family gatherings and invitations to festive events can bring a new relationship into the spotlight before both people have figured out what they want. Taking things slowly may give them the space to understand their connection without feeling pressured to define it prematurely.

Rather than viewing increased dating activity as a reason to act quickly, these respondents appear to be focusing on letting relationships develop at a pace that feels right to them.

What The QuackQuack Survey Found

The study was conducted among 12,000 daters aged 22 to 35, with participants equally divided between metro and suburban regions. The respondents came from a range of professional backgrounds, along with a smaller proportion of students.

The findings offer a glimpse into how some young daters experience the festive season and respond to the pressure of being single. Although the results do not reflect everyone's dating experience, they point towards a pattern in which more opportunities to connect do not necessarily create an immediate desire for commitment.

Dating At Your Own Pace May Be The Bigger Festive Trend

Festive dating is not always about finding someone as quickly as possible. For some singles, it is about recognising when social pressure is influencing their choices, resisting the urge to revisit past relationships out of nostalgia and allowing new connections to develop naturally.

While the festive season may offer more opportunities to meet people, it does not have to determine when a relationship begins or how quickly it progresses. Whether someone decides to explore a promising match or wait until the celebrations settle down, the key is to recognise the difference between genuine interest and the fear of missing out.