I'm a younger guy, 27.
@zekko is spot on in his understanding of it, my age and below (and a little above) doesn't call it dating. It's technically the same, but as mentioned the word "dating" sets expectations which pretty much kills the fun of it all. I'm pretty sure the term is unpopular enough to change the numbers like that just because younger people don't call it that. That doesn't mean it's happening less though, it just means the study was poorly designed. Neither does it mean younger people aren't looking for love as much as before, they're just going about it slightly differently and calling it other things. They don't define what they want it to be before they see where it goes.
I'm one of those guys who just can't stand calling it dating, because it just sounds so formal in a way when two people meeting and having a good time should be anything except formal. Calling it a date just feels so contrived with all the expectations people have about it, I'd rather just "hang out" and let it go whichever way feels natural.
They're appealing to guys who have no clue and don't get that "dating" as they envision with their expectations just isn't how it works. I would be repulsed by such an approach though.
This is exactly it! I totally get how it's creepy as fvck if a guy you barely even know come up and profess his love. It's not even love, because they can't properly love someone they barely know, it's out of control infatuation. Similarly asking for a date is often coming on too fast, the expectations are too high and the pressure makes her want to get away from it all.
Even I would be creeped out if a woman just came out of nowhere telling me how intensely she loves me, like who the fvck are you even? That approach would scream "crazy lady" to me. Had she chilled down, kept her interest in check and just asked to hang out I'd be fine with it.
