'Sledging' is the dangerous new winter dating trend that people should now be very concerned about

There's a brand-new dating trend to look out for this winter, and you'll want to keep your guard up.

As we all know, cuffing season is well and truly in swing, as people are on the hunt for relationships ahead of the Christmas and New Year's period.

But be warned! Not everyone is looking for a pure, wholesome relationship - short-term flings that go as spring comes around can be common for singletons, but how can you sniff these out before getting hurt?

Well, get ready to add a new dating trend word to your vocabulary.

Christmas might be a time associated with love, but this trend is not (Getty Stock Photo)

It's called sledging, fitting as it comes as the temperature begins to drop, though it has nothing to do with the fun childhood activity you did with your parents down a hill.

There's no happiness or joy associated with this trend, unfortunately, though sledging in 2024 will leave you feeling like you were shoved down a steep slope.

As the colder months approach, a lot of Gen Zers, like generations before them, will be looking not to be single, and will want to be with someone over the winter period, even if they don't necessarily have feelings for them.

It doesn't end there though, it's not just for single people - those of you in relationships should keep an eye out too, to avoid feeling as dark and gloomy as the weather.

The odd trend can claim those who think that they may be in happy relationships, but instead, the other person is purposely 'dragging them along' to get through the winter months, despite losing interest.

This is all done with the intention to split up come the spring, when 'cuffing season' is over.

You could be the subject of sledging without even knowing it (Getty Stock Photo)

In fact, dating app Happn have revealed through new research that 15 percent of single 18-25-year-olds kept dating the same person over the festive period despite not feeling anything for them, in what might be one of the most toxic dating trends yet.

They further discovered that 15 percent of Gen Z daters wanted to end things with their significant others, but waited until Christmas and New Year passed to call it quits.

The worrying part is that people want to end the relationship in November, but stay with the person as the pressures of being with someone over the festive period starts to kick in.

In fact, 75 percent of people surveyed made the choice to break up in November, but waited until the New Year to break it off.

Sledgers, am I right?

Shockingly though, some sledgers, 25 percent to be exact, dragged their relationship on from August until after Christmas to call it quits.

You'll want to avoid getting sledged this winter (Getty Stock Photo)

So, how do you avoid being on the wrong end of this horrid trend?

Happn's dating expert Claire Rénier has revealed what signs to look out for, via Daily Star.

She explained: "Gen Z should look out for signs that they’re being ‘sledged’ to avoid their partner staying with them just through the winter, with intention to break up soon after.

"This can be toxic and a red flag," Rénier highlighted.

"People shouldn’t be treated this way in what should be a loving and trusting relationship. It plays with people’s emotions and fosters short-term satisfaction.

"Instead, young people should find more authentic connections with people with shared locations and hobbies," the expert went on.

''This way they can find partners that are genuinely interested in them and sustain a relationship to last beyond just the winter!”