Red flag signs you're being ‘future faked’ by the person you’re dating
Dating in 2026 sounds like something of a nightmare, given the amount of trends, red flags and icks you now need to deal with.
For those of you who are still single, tough luck, because it seems almost impossible to find the right match in a world of dating apps where another potential match is just a swipe away.
And even if you do break through the endless messages and promises of meet-ups to actually go on a date with the person you've been sending one-liners to, then you've got to make sure you don't say or do anything that will put them off the idea of a second date.
Some folks are stacking dates on top of each other in the hope of finding the one, while others are inviting people over purely to get something fixed in their home, in true Bob the Builder fashion.
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But suppose you finally make it out of the dating app trenches and find someone you think you're going to spend the rest of your life with, only to get 'future faked'.
Well, that's an increasing problem for a lot of people who are being promised the world only to end up wasting years of their life on the wrong person.
'Future faking' essentially sees one partner pledge everything you might want in the rest of your life, whether it be a home together, children, marriage, or even just a holiday, without ever actually delivering on their promises.
Julie Menanno, a marriage and family therapist, shared some red flags to look out for if you're worried about being 'future faked'.
She told The Independent: “Commitment-phobia can show up in many different ways. It can show up as saying nothing at all and just refusing to talk about the future, or it can show up by making plans that never come through.
"And ultimately, it’s a way that a person who wants connection, but is afraid of connection, regulates their nervous system.”
She added: “You want to see that they do what they say. If they don’t – because we’re not always perfect – do they make repairs? Do they talk about it, or do they just make excuses?”
If you have a perfect relationship without ever having some sort of conflict, then there's an argument that you don't really know that person at all, and it's impossible to know how they will react when things don't go perfectly.
Much like love bombing, 'future faking' seems to be yet another instance of people lying about their true intentions when it comes to winning over a potential partner.
And it can have a huge impact on a person's mental health, according to Charlie Health, as they say, the constant promises can cause chronic anxiety, stress, and self-esteem issues.
However, it might not be intentional, as Menanno said that the person might actually mean what they say, adding: "Most people say these things because they really believe it. They're not just trying to be manipulative."
So how do you know that you aren't being 'future faked? Well, couples psychotherapist Sarah Ingram said it is worth looking at their day-to-day behaviour to see if they actually follow through on anything.
Mennano shared a similar sentiment, adding: "You want to see that they do what they say. If they don't - because we're not always perfect - do they make repairs? Do they talk about it, or do they just make excuses?"
James Moorhouse