Ambiguity leaves you feeling wronged: from cookie-jarring to breadcrumbing, the 5 big dating app trends of 2026 revealed

If you don’t want to keep meeting people who treat you like a backup or hide the relationship, these five latest dating terms can help you spot the warning signs early.

• Related reading: No more cold wars after arguments: Replace “you always” with “I feel” – 3 communication skills every couple should learn!

Cookie-jarring: being treated like a cookie jar backup they remember only when they’re bored

You may think the conversation is going well, only for them to be hot and cold. You may be experiencing Cookie-jarring. The term describes someone who treats you like a “cookie jar” kept in a cupboard, only occasionally reaching in for a cookie when they’re bored, feeling insecure, or have been rejected by the person they’re primarily pursuing. It turns out they’re keeping you around only as a backup option, not because they truly want a serious relationship.

Pocketing: keeping a relationship hidden from the public

You’ve been dating for a while, yet they never introduce you to their family or friends, and there’s no sign of you at all on their social media. This behavior of “keeping you in their pocket” is called Pocketing. Sometimes it may be because they value privacy, though more often it’s a clear red flag that they’re not ready to bring you into their real-life circle, or want to appear single to others. It’s definitely something to watch out for.

Monkey-barring: lining up the next person before breaking up

You probably played on the monkey bars at the playground as a kid, right? Applying that move to dating, though, is no fun at all. Monkey-barring comes from this image: before someone has fully let go of their previous relationship, they’re already reaching out to grab tightly onto the next person. This jumping straight from one relationship to the next usually stems from a fear of being single or simple laziness. For women looking for a stable relationship, this type of person is often the most likely to hurt them.

Breadcrumbing: scattering crumbs without ever offering commitment

In fairy tales, breadcrumbs are scattered to leave a trail, but on dating apps, it’s a skillful way of stringing someone along. They might occasionally like your posts or send a flirty message after a long stretch of silence, offering just enough small sweet gestures while never taking the initiative to ask you out or make any real commitment. This low-effort interaction is simply meant to keep your attention without requiring any genuine care.

Cuffing: getting into a relationship just to avoid being single

As the year-end holiday season approaches, you’ll always see plenty of people rushing to find a partner. Cuffing originally means “handcuffing”; in dating, it refers to forcing yourself into a relationship so you don’t have to spend certain holidays, such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, alone. These relationships usually aren’t built on genuine love and tend to have an expiration date. Once the period when they need companionship has passed, those “handcuffs” can come off at any time.

These new terms that keep emerging also reflect modern anxieties around relationships. Rather than exhausting yourself in ambiguous interactions, shift your focus back to yourself. The next time you match with someone and notice similar behavior, would you choose to say goodbye without hesitation?

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