It is common knowledge that each generation introduces its own quirks to the dating scene. With Generation Z, one of the latest trends we have witnessed so far is the 'soft-launching' of relationships. The soft-launch involves slowly introducing your online friends and followers to your significant other. Whether that be through silhouettes, side profiles, or glimpses of dates, it's all about creating hype around our relationships.
So, why are we soft-launching our relationships? Well, the dating scene is certainly a rocky place to be in modern times. The driving factor for a soft-launch can probably be pinned down to embarrassment. As a generation, we embrace embarrassment with open arms. The fear of a brand new relationship going wrong is enough to retreat away from showing your new person. Past experiences of relationships and removing exes from your feed can be a brutal task that can cause emotional turmoil, so why make yourself vulnerable to it?
The soft-launching trend has skyrocketed over the past year. Now, you'll be able to find Pinterest boards with examples of how to do it, or articles suggesting when the best time to announce your relationship is. This shows just how far into this trend we have fallen. However, those braver souls choose to hard-launch. This option is for those who choose to reveal their full partner - face and everything!
Social media has encouraged us to look at ourselves as a brand, as we tease our romantic lives like we are celebrities
Whilst soft-launching can offer a template of how to reveal your love life, it also shows how we are commercialising ourselves. Social media has encouraged us to look at ourselves as a brand, as we tease our romantic lives like we are celebrities. Some prefer to simply keep their love life private, allowing them to stay in the moment without being concerned about what others think.
Soft-launching is an extremely prominent feature in this modern dating life. The good news is that whether you soft-launch, hard-launch, or keep it all private, the choice is exclusively yours.