5 Things TikTok Taught Us About Dating in 2022
TikTok is one of the greatest gifts we've been given in the last few years, and one of the many reasons why is the tidbits of knowledge we've gained about a whole host of topics.
One topic in particular that we just can't seem to stop talking about these days is dating, and boy do TikTok creators have plenty to say about it—especially in 2022. Now that we've welcomed 2023 with open arms and hearts, it's time to go over some of the top things that TikTok taught us about dating in 2022, below!
1. That It's a Mess
To put it simply, dating is… not so simple. These days, we live in a land of dating apps and casual dating where everyone seems to have a "situationship," but few of us have actual relationships. 2022 saw plenty of videos about dates that didn't go to plan and even celebrity conspiracy theories and cheating scandals that make us kind of want to stay single forever.
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Also read about: 4 Dating Standards We're Setting for Ourselves in 2023
2. That We're De-Centering Men
If there's one major positive that we learned in 2022 about dating, it's that we really need to stop focusing so much time and energy on men. We live in a heteronormative, patriarchal society that has valued men highly for just about ever, and finally, we're starting to talk about how messed up this has made many of us. The concept of "de-centering men" has become more popular of late, involving focusing on just about anything in our lives other than men. It's a beautiful thing, especially for those of us who fall into the "anxious dater" category and who normally focus far too much energy and attention on the guys we're interested in.
3. That It's Okay Not to Date at All
Another thing we learned about dating in 2022? That you don't need to be doing it at all. More and more creators of all different ages revealed that they've never been in a relationship, or that they've been their happiest in a new single era of life. And that is some energy we're definitely taking with us into 2023.
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Also read about: What Is the Right Age to Start Dating?
4. That There Are Some Pretty Messed Up Things Being Taught
Does the name "Andrew Tate" ring a bell? Unfortunately, 2022 also saw a rise in content aimed at men that's very anti-feminist and generally disgusting in nature. But, TikTok quickly rose to the podium to rip this kind of content apart video after video, proving there is still hope for a better world even with the few (very loud) outliers.
Also read about: What You Need to Know About Attachment Styles
5. That There's a Lot More to Know Than Just Your Love Language
From attachment theory to manifesting and so much more, TikTok has shown that knowing your love language(s) isn't the only thing to be familiar with anymore when it comes to love and relationships.
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From the good to the bad and the downright ugly in between, TikTok taught us a lot about dating in 2022. Thanks to this app and so much else, we also had quite a few dating-related terms rise in popularity last year. You can click HERE to check a few of them out.