Dating Life: The new reality show taking over Instagram
Social media, especially Instagram, has transformed dating into a public spectacle. Launched in 2010 as a photo-sharing platform, Instagram now hosts everything from makeup tutorials to personal love stories.
One of the most popular trends is sharing raw, unfiltered takes on dating—often featuring first dates, awkward encounters, and even breakups. Unlike polished, idealized portrayals of relationships, these posts show the reality, bumps and all.
Creators like Danielle Walter, the “girl who takes you on dates,” and Zakir Siddiqui, a self-proclaimed “viral Indian man with a black belt in first dates,” have popularized this trend. Danielle, for example, gained nearly a million followers by sharing her dating adventures, including 12 first dates in a year.
Her success reflects a broader shift toward more authentic and relatable dating content. Similarly, Zakir’s videos of pre- and post-date updates have attracted over one lakh followers.
This trend has captured the attention of platforms like Bumble, which recently conducted a study predicting dating GRWMs (Get Ready With Me), live-streamed breakups, and relationship “tests” will become even more popular by 2025. The study also found that nearly half of Indian singles are embracing more transparent and real dating content, noting that it fosters healthier relationship goals and reduces feelings of loneliness.
However, experts warn that oversharing can come at a cost. Mental health professionals, like Aashmeen Munjaal, point out that while publicizing dating stories can create a sense of connection, it also invites judgment, self-doubt, and trolling.
Comments on posts can be harsh, potentially undermining the person’s confidence or even affecting their relationship. Oversharing also makes it harder to establish boundaries later, as relationship expert Ruchi Ruuh advises.
Ultimately, while dating has become a reality show on Instagram, experts remind us that the most meaningful love stories are still lived offline. The best moments are those shared with just one person, not the whole world.
