Have you heard of the dating phenomena known as “paperclipping”?
Despite the appearance of simplicity, dating in the digital age—with its plethora of dating apps and websites—is frequently a difficult and unpredictable affair.
“Paperclipping” is one of the most unpleasant trends that have emerged in this setting among many others.
what is it “Paperclipping”?
This phenomena is intermittent communication with another individual, akin to the paperclip action – brief, insincere communications are sent, with no genuine intention to build stronger bonds.
An individual who “paperclips” is not looking for a committed relationship; instead, they are just looking to keep in touch and view the other person as a “spare tire.”
There are three ways to respond to such situations, according to Psychology Today: you can let yourself be drawn into the game because we do not particularly care about a permanent relationship; ignore such messages; or confront the person, asking directly about their intentions. This behavior can be misleading and give false hopes for developing relationships. In fact, short conversations that end quickly usually don’t lead to anything more serious because the person simply doesn’t want a long-term relationship.