The pre-dating limbo phase gained official terminology in modern courtship. #TalkingStage emerged on Twitter in mid-2016, describing the period where two people communicate regularly and show romantic interest but haven’t officially started dating or defined the relationship.
Modern Courtship Phase
The hashtag characterized contemporary dating’s extended ambiguous period that didn’t exist in previous generations. The talking stage involved texting, maybe video calls, possibly hanging out, but without commitment or exclusivity. It existed between “we’re just friends” and “we’re dating.”
Frustration Documentation
Users vented about talking stages that lasted months without progression. Twitter threads debated how long was reasonable (weeks? months?) before requiring definition. The hashtag captured anxiety about investing emotionally without security or clarity about the other person’s intentions.
Cultural Significance
The talking stage reflected dating app culture’s paradox: constant communication access combined with commitment avoidance. People could be deeply involved in someone’s daily life through texts while maintaining plausible deniability about relationship status.
TikTok Education
By 2020, TikTok creators produced guides on navigating talking stages, when to have “the talk,” and red flags indicating someone wouldn’t progress beyond this phase. The hashtag accumulated over 2 billion views.
Real-World References
- Cosmopolitan: What Is the Talking Stage?
- Elite Daily: Talking Stage Rules