An increasing number of victims of the new dating trend. Understanding the 'only plans'
Various trends are burgeoning within the dating app community, not all of which are positive. Instances of 'ghosting', where an individual completely disappears from a relationship, are well-known. However, a recently emerged phenomenon called 'only plans' is gaining dubious popularity.
11:37 AM EST, November 17, 2023
Known as 'only plans', this scenario has gradually grown notorious in the dating app world. The issue is now so prevalent that the creators of the famous American dating app "Plenty of Fish" referenced it in their latest report predicting trends for single people dating in the coming year.
'Only plans': Unpacking the new trend
'Only plans’, despite the possible association with the Only Fans website due to the similar naming, is not directly linked to it. Instead, it refers to the frustrating trend of repeatedly scheduling dates that never occur as they're invariably canceled at the very last moment. A 'Plenty of Fish' study found that 52 percent of users have experienced this disappointing trend.
'Only plans' typically operate so that the person you arranged to meet up with never informs you of potential impediments to the meet-up, even though they know it won't happen from the beginning. Instead, they tell you just before the scheduled date, always offering a plausible excuse. If another meeting is planned, the pattern tends to repeat.
Understanding the motivation behind 'only plans'
What would prompt users to resort to such behavior? Multiple reasons exist, but often, it's due to fear of potential disappointment or judgment from the other person.
At times, 'only plans' manifest a similarly unpleasant trend known as 'benching.' This involves someone treating the other person as if they were on their backup roster. Engagers in 'benching' deceive their partner by providing false hope for a relationship while treating them as a 'spare' option.
