If you’re navigating the dating streets in 2024, you have to be fluent in speaking single-ese. There’s an unspoken language between two dating prospects where each person must tetter a delicate line between non-verbal cues, decoding tone-less texts, and reading between lines that may or may not be there.
It’s safe to say that it can be confusing and even frustrating having to decide between playing it cool while still showing interest in suitors. Thankfully, we now have insights on how to get clear on Digital Body Language (DBL) to (hopefully) end these vicious guessing games once and for all.
What Is DBL?
Hinge recently released their latest D.A.T.E (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) Report from its team of expert Ph.D. researchers. The report provides fresh insights derived from a survey of 15,000 daters, highlighting the predominant trends and dating habits of Gen Z in the year 2024, one of which is DBL.
According to Hinge, DBL is “all the subtexts that are strewn throughout digital communication.” From emojis, punctuation, message length, and response time, these subtle, nonverbal cues give singles a hint about whether a person is into them or not. It's the subtle art of reading between the lines, or rather, between the characters in a text.
In the report, Hinge found that 77% of its users say a match’s DBL reveals a lot about their intentions, with 69% of Hinge daters relying on DBL to decide if they want to commit to going out with someone.
The report highlights a common theme among online daters dealing with the anxieties of interpreting the social cues of their potential matches — which is still an uncharted communication barrier within the digital realm.
TikTok creator Stacy Thiru shared in a video the times that she’s jumped to conclusions and misunderstood things in her dating life until understanding the power of DBL. “All this time I’m jumping, leaping, sky diving to conclusions, and the problem was I wasn’t understanding his DBL,” she says.
@stacythiru wedding invites coming soon, wait until stink & I get this DBL sorted🙈 check the link in my bio for the full Hinge Gen Z Date Report #hingepartner
Decoding Signs of Interest Through DBL
Generally speaking, reading between the lines of every person you date is already hard enough. Each person is coming into a new dating encounter with their own set of experiences, expectations, triggers, and attachment style, so even with a new understanding of what DBL is, there’s still room for grace and understanding from person to person. Because, let’s admit, how one person communicates digitally, may not be how the next one will.
That’s why when it comes to decoding DBL and adopting a more direct approach to communication, Hinge's Love and Connection Expert, Moe Ari, highlights the top signs of DBL that indicate interest.
They Initiate The Conversation:
“Taking the time to look at someone’s profile [on Hinge] and reply to a Prompt is a great way to make it clear you’re interested in chatting. 3 out of 4 Hinge daters say that initiating a conversation is a strong indicator that someone is interested. So, instead of waiting around for someone else to kick things off, step outside your comfort zone and try sending the message first.”
There Is Consistent Messaging:
“Are they using open-ended questions to keep the conversation flowing and replying with empathetic responses? When someone takes the time in their day to message you back and forth and ask questions, it makes you feel special. So it’s no surprise that messaging consistency is one of the most important DBL cues for Hinge daters.”
They Double Text:
“This is one of the most over-analyzed DBL signs out there! Does it show you’re too eager, or is it just a casual stream of thought? Only 13% of daters say double-texting gives them 'the ick,' so it’s time to put the fear aside and embrace it. Show them you are interested and want to chat!”
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'Sistas' Star Skyh Black On The Power Of Hypnotherapy & Emotional Vulnerability For Men
In this insightful episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Sistas star Skyh Black, as he opened up about his journey of emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The episode touches on emotional availability, self-worth, masculinity, and the importance of therapy in overcoming personal struggles.
Skyh Black on Emotional Availability & Love
On Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
“My wife and I wouldn't be where we are today if both of us weren't emotionally available,” he shared about his wife and Sistas co-star KJ Smith, highlighting the value of vulnerability and emotional openness in a relationship. His approach to masculinity stands in contrast to the traditional, stoic ideals. Skyh is not afraid to embrace softness as part of his emotional expression.
On Overcoming Self-Doubt & Worthiness Issues
Skyh reflected on the self-doubt and worthiness issues that he struggled with, especially early in his career. He opens up about his time in Los Angeles, living what he calls the “LA struggle story”—in a one-bedroom with three roommates—and being homeless three times over the span of 16 years. “I always had this self-sabotaging thought process,” Skyh said. “For me, I feel therapy is essential, period. I have a regular therapist and I go to a hypnotherapist.”
How Therapy Helped Him Heal From Self-Doubt
On Hypnotherapy & Empowering Self-Acceptance
Skyh’s journey is a testament to the power of tapping into self-development despite life’s struggles and being open to growth. “I had to submit to the fact that God was doing good in my life, and that I'm worthy of it. I had a worthiness issue and I did not realize that. So, that’s what the hypnotherapy did. It brought me back to the core. What is wrong so that I can fix it?”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
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Quinta Brunson Gets Real About Divorce, Boundaries & Becoming
Quinta Brunson is the woman who chooses herself, even when the world is watching. And in her June 30 cover story for Bustle, she gives us a rare glimpse into the soft, centered place she's navigating her life from now. From leading one of television's most beloved series in the last decade to quietly moving through life shifts, the creator of Abbott Elementary is walking through a personal evolution and doing so with intention, grace, and a firm grip on her boundaries.
Back in March, the 35-year-old filed for divorce from Kevin Jay Anik after nearly three years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The news hit the headlines of news outlets fast, but Quinta hadn't planned to announce their dissolution to the public so quickly.
Quinta Brunson On Divorce, Public Scrutiny & Sacred Boundaries
"I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce,’" she told Bustle. “I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you. No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life. It’s just that that’s public record information."
In regards to her private moves becoming tabloid fodder, Quinta continued, "I hated that. I hate all of it."
"I Am An Artist First": Quinta On Cutting Her Hair & Reclaiming Herself
Still, the diminutive phenom holds her crown high in the face of change and is returning to the essence of who she is, especially as an artist. "Cutting my hair reminded me that I am an artist first. I want to feel things. I want to make choices. I want to be a person, and not just stuck in having to be a certain way for business." It's giving sacred rebirth. It's giving self-liberation. It's especially giving main character energy.
And while the headlines keep spinning their narratives, the one that Quinta is focused on is her own. For her, slowing down and nourishing herself in ways that feed her is what matters. "It’s a transitional time. I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world," Quinta shared with Bustle. “I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day."
That includes indulging in simple rituals that ground her like "making myself a meal" which has become "really, really important to me."
That spirit of agency doesn't stop at the personal. In her professional world, as the creator, executive producer, and lead actress of the critically-acclaimed Abbott Elementary, Quinta understands the weight her choices carry, both on- and off-screen. She revealed to Bustle, "People used to tell me at the beginning of this that the No. 1 on the call sheet sets the tone, and the producer sets the tone — and I’m both of those roles."
She continued, "I understand now, after doing this for four years, how important it was that I set the tone that I did when we first started."
Quinta doesn't just lead, she understands the importance of curating the energy of any space she enters. Even amid a season of shifts and shedding, her power speaks loudly. Sometimes that power looks like quiet resistance. Sometimes that power is soft leadership.
And sometimes that power looks like cutting your hair and taking back your name in rooms that have forgotten you were an artist long before you were a brand.
Read Quinta's cover story on Bustle here to witness the fullness of Quinta's becoming.
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