What is 'avalanche'? Experts reveal how to survive the latest Valentine's Day dating trend

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, couples in love will be making romantic plans and looking for the perfect gift for their partner ahead of the big day.

It's not just a busy time for those in relationships, though, as singles are being warned about yet another dating trend to add to their vocabulary: “avalanche.”

It comes after a host of other new trends have become part of our vocabulary, including 'cobwebs', 'breadcrumbing' and 'zombie'.

Dating experts are warning those using dating apps that they risk being overwhelmed by the sudden increase in interest in their profiles.

Research by FindingTheOne.com Research has shown that 79% of single people admit to swiping right more in January to look for a Valentine because they are afraid of being alone on February 14.

In fact, 45% of singles say their dating non-negotiables will go out the window this month when looking for a match, as age, location and appearance take a back seat.

January's struggle to find love means you could receive many more matches and messages in the coming weeks.

While this may sound like a good thing, FindingTheOne dating expert Sylvia Linzalone has warned that the rush to get a match in time for Valentine's Day could actually be counterproductive.

A whopping 64% of the 800 people surveyed believe Valentine's Day is the most depressing time of the year.

The dating expert explains: 'The spike in swiping in January is a natural response to societal expectations and the desire for companionship during a love-centric season.

'Being single on Valentine's Day can be quite a daunting time for some, especially if you're surrounded by beloved friends eagerly making plans for fancy dinners and romantic getaways.

However, the January rush to find love in time for February 14 could have serious consequences.

'With singles hit by 'avalanche', people will be bombarded with a huge amount of new messages and interactions on dating apps this month, and that could leave singles feeling overwhelmed and pressured, if the sudden surge of attention strikes.'

January's struggle to find love means you could receive many more matches and messages in the coming month

According to Linzalone, it's not just those on the receiving end who are affected by the dating trend: “There's an added risk of becoming disappointed if the extra effort people put in to find a date for Valentine's Day doesn't pay off.”

Singleton Fran from Colchester, who took part in the research, said: 'I hate being alone on Valentine's Day.

'All my best friends are in long-term relationships so they're all in order, while I'm at risk of spending the night alone with a bottle of wine and Eastenders on the TV to keep me company.

'I've made it my mission to find someone before February 14, so I'm continuing my search on various dating apps.

'I've updated my photos and bio to make sure I stand out from the crowd, and I'm admittedly swiping on people I probably wouldn't have a few months ago. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

When asked how singles can avoid getting caught up in the pre-Valentine's Day frenzy, Linzalone said, “What we need to do is embrace intentional dating.”

'At FindingTheOne we want to ensure that people date purposefully and take the time to find someone if they are really looking for a serious relationship.

'Today, dating apps have become just another form of social media, with extensive messaging and relatively little face-to-face contact.

“It's time to switch the two and focus on real-life encounters if you really want to make a change in your love life in 2024.”