Ever had a great match, only to discover a few days later that you were looking for completely different things?
Maybe you’re ready for a serious relationship, while they’re just exploring. Maybe they’re newly out of a relationship and taking things slow. Maybe they’re in an open relationship and assumed you already knew.
It’s nobody’s fault. Dating today is more diverse than ever, and people’s relationship situations aren’t always as simple as “single” or “taken.”
That’s exactly why we’ve introduced a new Relationship Status feature on DOWN.
Introducing Relationship Status on DOWN
When creating a new account, you’ll now be asked a simple question:
“What’s your relationship status right now?”
You can choose the option that best reflects your current situation:
- Single
- Couple
- Restarting after a breakup
- Situationships
- Ethical Open Relationships
- Prefer not to say
Because modern dating looks different for everyone, we wanted to offer options that reflect real life relationship experiences, not just traditional labels.
Whether you’re newly single, part of a couple, navigating a situationship, or exploring an ethical open relationship, your profile should be able to reflect where you’re at right now.
Modern Dating Isn’t One Size Fits All
The way people date has changed.
Some people are happily single and looking to meet someone new. Others are navigating a situationship, exploring ethical non-monogamy, dating as a couple, or getting back into the dating world after a breakup.
The problem? Most dating profiles don’t give enough context. And let’s be honest, nobody enjoys finding out they’re on completely different pages after investing time in a conversation.
Without that context, people often make assumptions. And when expectations don’t align, conversations can become awkward, disappointing, or simply a waste of time for everyone involved.
We wanted to make it easier for people to be upfront about where they are in life before the first match, the first chat, or the first date.
Better Context to Better Connections
One of the most common frustrations in online dating is discovering important information too late.
You spend time getting to know someone, only to realize you’re looking for different things or approaching dating from completely different places.
Relationship Status helps provide that missing context earlier.
When people have a clearer picture of each other’s situations, they can make more informed decisions about who they’d like to connect with and how they’d like those conversations to unfold.
That can mean fewer awkward conversations like:
“So… what exactly are you looking for here?”
Fewer mismatched expectations, and more time spent connecting with people who are actually looking for something similar to you.
And let’s face it, dating is already complicated enough. Anything that helps people communicate more openly is a win.
Creating a More Honest Dating Experience
At DOWN, we believe that meaningful connections start with authenticity.
Being honest about where you are doesn’t mean having all the answers. It simply means showing up as yourself.
Whether you’re newly single, recovering from a breakup, exploring alternative relationship dynamics, or just seeing what’s out there, your current situation is part of your story, and that’s okay.
The new Relationship Status feature helps make those stories easier to share and easier to understand.
A little context can go a long way.
Because the best connections don’t start with assumptions.
They start with honesty.
Ready to get started? Create your DOWN profile, choose the relationship status that fits you best, and connect with people who appreciate knowing the real you from day one.