BLK RELEASES 7-STEP SURVIVAL GUIDE TO COMBAT DATING APP FATIGUE THIS VALENTINE’S SEASON

With burnout on the rise, BLK offers actionable strategies to help singles navigate Valentine's Day without the stress

BLK to host nationwide Valentine’s Day mixers in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and DC to help Black singles connect IRL

As Valentine’s Day approaches, "dating app fatigue" has become a pervasive conversation, with many singles reporting feelings of overwhelm rather than excitement. Today, BLK, the #1 dating app for Black singles, is sharing 7 expert tips to help users beat the burnout and protect their peace.

The guidance is grounded in BLK’s 2026 Dating Trends, which identify a shift in how Black Gen Z is dating: moving away from ambiguous "situationships" and toward clarity and intentionality. Amber Cooper, BLK’s Head of Brand, notes that fatigue often comes from a lack of routine.

We want to give daters permission to slow down," says Cooper. "The fatigue often comes when you try to juggle dating alongside everything else in your day without a plan. Our advice this season is to bring intentionality back to the process. By setting daily windows for engagement, asking the hard questions earlier, and normalizing the “pause,” you can turn dating back into something that adds to your life, instead of draining it.

7 TIPS TO COMBAT APP FATIGUE

BLK recommends the following strategies to stay balanced this season:

1. Institute "Dating Office Hours": Cooper advises treating dating with the same consistency you apply to other goals. Designate a specific daily window - for example, every evening from 7 PM to 9 PM - to log in, reply, and fully engage. By dedicating daily time to be present, you ensure that your conversations are richer and more intentional, rather than trying to multitask connection during a busy workday.

2. Start "Prequalifying" Immediately: Nothing drains energy faster than weeks of investment in a misaligned match. BLK data shows a rise in "Prequalifying" - the practice of screening for non-negotiables (faith, politics, lifestyle) in the first 48 hours. Doing this early isn't "doing too much"; it's efficient. It saves emotional bandwidth by ensuring you only invest time in connections that align with your long-term vision.

3. Follow the "Rule of 3": Decision fatigue sets in when managing too many conversations at once. The "Rule of 3" suggests capping your active roster at three potential matches. If a new connection sparks interest but you are already at capacity, place them on a mental waitlist. You cannot give genuine, intentional energy to a new person until you have closed out or paused an old connection.

4. Use "Datelisting" to Pause Without Guilt: Ghosting often happens due to overwhelm, not malice. Instead of disappearing when life gets busy, use "Datelisting" (similar to waitlisting) - a transparent way to update matches on your capacity. A simple text like "Work is crazy this week, can we pause and reconnect Friday?" relieves the pressure to perform while keeping the door open respectfully.

5. Audit Your "Return on Emotion" (ROE): The trend of "ROEmancing" involves treating your energy like a budget. If you are feeling drained, do an audit of your active chats. Are they providing a return in the form of consistency, clarity, and joy? Or are they costing you confusion? If the ROE is negative, divest immediately to save space for better connections.

6. The 15-Minute Vibe Check: Texting creates a false sense of intimacy that can lead to disappointment. To avoid the "pen pal" trap, move to a 15-minute audio or video call within a few days of matching. This quickly filters for chemistry and tone, preventing you from building a fantasy around someone you haven't truly met.

7. Take it Offline (Community Cuffing): Sometimes, screen fatigue is simply a need for physical presence. Cooper advises mixing app usage with the new trend "Community Cuffing” - using the app to connect, but verifying the vibe in safe, shared spaces like run clubs, church groups, or mixers. This removes the pressure of the one-on-one interview-style date and allows for a more organic connection. BLK is hosting several events in Dallas, Atlanta, Washington DC and Houston to help singles connect. Find out more here.