Nanoship: A dating trend with no strings attached

The romance world has seen many trends such as situationship, sledging, and benching. Another short, and sweet dating trend has emerged. Nanoship is all about living in the moment even if it lasts just for a few seconds or minutes. You may be at a party, taking public transport or just enjoying shopping when suddenly you notice someone. Quickly you two sense a mutual desire, but you don’t turn it into a relationship. No promises to meet or talk again are made. You just enjoy the moment with no expectations or commitment.

What is nanoship?

When it comes to Gen-Z, there seems to be commitment issues. During a 2020 study, published in Frontiers In Psychology, researchers found that younger people are more likely to indicate that they are single because they don’t like commitment. If commitment is holding you back from entering the romance realm then try nanoship. It is a new dating trend reportedly coined by the online dating platform Tinder in 2024. It is a short-term or fleeting connection you have with someone whom you don’t know. “It’s typically intense but very brief, lasting only for a moment,” says mental health and behavioural science expert Dr Rahul Chandhok. It can be a quick chat with that person or a flirty smile.

Nanoship typically arises from spontaneous attraction or shared moments and fades quickly because of lack of emotional attachment and intent for longevity. “It focuses more on the micro-moments rather than on building something long-lasting,” says the expert.

How is nanoship different from casual dating?

Nanoship and casual dating are different in terms of intent and duration. Casual dating involves spending time with one or more people on a regular basis but without commitment. “The focus is on exploration and fun rather than on exclusivity or building deep emotional connections,” says the expert. This type of dating can last for weeks, months, or longer, and generally involves mutual understanding about the casual nature of the relationship.

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Nanoship, on the other hand, is a very short-lived connection that lasts only for a moment. It doesn’t involve any consistent interaction or effort that is generally found in casual dating. It is more about fleeting chemistry than long-lasting commitment.

What are the pros and cons of nanoship?

There are good things about nanoship:

• No commitment: The element of commitment is non-existent in nanoship. This makes it ideal for those who just want to explore a little in the romantic world, but are not seeking long-term relationships.
• Provides excitement: Since it’s very short-lived, it gives a sense of excitement and novelty for a brief moment. This makes it a great choice for people who want excitement in their love life.
• No complications or challenges: When you are in a long-term relationship, there may be sexual problems, arguments, and less excitement. A 2020, study, published in Evolutionary Psychology, showed that many people face difficulties in maintaining a long-term relationship. In a nanoship, there are no complications or challenges of long-term relationships. This allows people to be free, and not worry about the problems.

Nanoship has certain cons as well:

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• Lack of fulfilment: Since it’s a fleeting form of romance with no emotional depth, it may leave people feeling unfulfilled.
• Disappointment: Temporary nature of nanoship may have a lasting effect on a person and may discourage efforts toward meaningful connections in future.
• Regret: It may leave lingering feelings of regret or “what if” which may make a person question every relationship they might be involved in, in future. “This may lead to a sense of loneliness and emptiness,” says Dr Chandhok.

Are dating trends like nanoship healthy?

Dating trends like nanoship can be healthy for those who have mutual understanding regarding the terms and conditions of the connection. “For people who are sensitive and tend to form deep emotional connections, these kinds of trends are not ideal, as they may lead to a sense of disappointment,” says the expert.

The essence of every relationship is to have clear communication and understanding, and to what extent they align when it comes to personal values and emotional expectations.

How to build a healthy relationship?

If brief romantic encounters are not enough for you, it’s important to understand how to build healthy relationships:

• Building a healthy relationship is all about clear communication, mutual trust and understanding. “It’s important to be on the same page and be very clear about expectations from the relationship,” says the expert.
• Prioritising honesty and addressing conflicts rather than avoiding them leads to long-lasting, healthy relationships.
• While communicating your thoughts is important, actively listening and understanding the other person is also essential. During a 2018 study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, attentive listening while the other partner expressed stress was linked with higher relationship satisfaction.
• Showing appreciation whenever possible and supporting partner makes them feel loved and understood.
• Consistency and efforts are important for a healthy relationship. “It’s important to understand that healthy relationships are built on collaboration and shared commitment,” says the expert.

Commitment may be one of the reasons why you don’t want to be in a relationship. In that case, you can try nanoship, a strong romantic connection that lasts for a short time.