Name: manifest-dating

Meaning: what it says on the tin. Unlike other dating trends, ‘manifest-dating’ is less to do with the specifics of the dates you’re going on and more to do with your mindset while dating – kind of like a positive version of the whole ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ break-up line. And so, in the same way that people talk about manifesting a dream job or opportunity, manifest-dating is all about attracting the partner, dates and relationship you want.

Origin: like many things nowadays, we’ve got TikTok to thank for this little gem. The product of 2020’s manifestation era, ‘manifest-dating’ has found its home on the platform, where you’ll find hundreds of videos explaining the ins and outs of the concept.

Now I’m intrigued. Tell me more! Some of the videos are more literal than others – there are guides on how to manifest someone texting you back, for example – but they have the same underlying message: that knowing what you want and believing it will happen is a recipe for success. Just recently, a survey of 800 daters from the dating app Badoo found that 63% were considering trying manifest-dating to help them find exactly what they’re looking for.

‘Manifest-dating’ is the latest dating trend promising to transform your relationships – but what actually is it?