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When it comes to relationships, there always seems to be trends that affect how people are dating.
Navigating the dating scene is hard enough, but it can become a bit of a circus once you add in people who are all about playing games — whether they’re conscious of it or not.
There are always red flags, but you might not be aware of some key signs of potentially disastrous dating situations.
Breadcrumbing
We all know someone who appears to be brave enough to put themselves out there — but once things start to become a little more serious, they cut and run.
“Breadcrumbing is when someone drops tiny bits of attention — just enough to keep you interested — but never follows through,” dating and relationship expert Callisto Adams told The Toronto Sun.
Orbiting
This red flag is as passive-aggressive as it gets, according to Addams.
“They’ll watch all your stories or like your posts, staying in your ‘orbit’ without reaching out,” she explained.
Carouselling
This toxic nightmare is similar to orbiting, when you are one of many being strung along — until someone better comes around.
“Someone’s keeping you in a rotation of options, giving just enough attention to keep you around without committing,” Adams said.
Hoodfishing
Just like catfishing, which is when someone creates a false identity in order to lure someone into a relationship online, hoodfishing is used to describe “the act of misrepresenting one’s location on online dating profiles” to appear more appealing,” according to NDTV.
Paperclipping
This is when an ex or past fling enters your life for a second time, just to keep you hooked — but of course they aren’t serious.
“It’s like they’re keeping you ‘on file,’” Adams said.
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“For daters, a big red flag to look out for in all of these trends is inconsistency,” Adams explained.
“If their attention feels like a yo-yo or their communication doesn’t match up with their supposed interest, trust your gut and be cautious about investing emotionally.”
She added: “The goal is always to find someone whose words and actions match up, and who doesn’t leave you guessing.”