【】

In the modern era, much more than physical touch and gifts can count as love languages. New data from dating app Hinge shows that memes are emerging as a way to show your affection.

Daters' number one preferred way to flirt before and after a first date is sending memes, according to a Hinge survey of 2,000 users. A majority, 73 percent, use memes to determine if they share a sense of humor with a match, while 60 percent prioritize getting a sense of someone's "meme humor" before going on a date.

A whopping 93 percent say memes reveal a potential partner's sense of humor. Ninety-two percent of daters consider a shared sense of humor to be an important factor when considering getting into a relationship.

SEE ALSO:Gen Z is challenging the way we date, says Tinder report

Why is sharing a sense of humor so important? "When we laugh, our brains release a happy cocktail of hormones that increase our levels of trust, lower our levels of stress, and make us feel more relaxed," explained Hinge's director of relationship science, Logan Ury. "The dopamine hit from laughing reinforces our behavior and makes us want to go back for more."

Mashable After DarkWant more sex and dating stories in your inbox?Sign up for Mashable's new weekly After Dark newsletter.By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

Our digital sense of humor has become an important part of our identity, Ury continued. If a potential date has a ho-hum reaction to your memes, remember that 36 percent of daters usually feel more interested after receiving a meme from someone — even if they don't think it's funny.

Want more sex and dating storiesin your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's new weekly After Dark newsletter.

"Focus on the things that really matter in a long-term partner: someone who’s loyal, emotionally stable, and brings out the best side of you," Ury advised. "Plus, if they don’t get your memes, that’s OK. You have a whole Internet full of people to share that part of yourself with."

---

Related Stories

---

• The dos and don'ts of Hinge audio notes
• The best sex and dating apps for finding a hookup
• My Hinge match invited me to dinner and blocked me as I waited for our table
• All the best dating apps for lesbians and gay women
• The best gay dating apps for everyone

There are ways you can show off your personality other than memes, too. Ury suggests sharing a self-deprecating story, planning a more playful date (like roller skating or a dance class), trying something new, and using emojis.

Also remember that there's a lot more to pre-date banter than memes. According to Ury and Hinge's data, modern daters want to see your tender side as well as your silly side: 93 percent of Hinge users prefer to date someone who's emotionally vulnerable. Mental health matters to daters now more than ever, so don't be afraid to express yourself or to talk about mental healthcare and therapy. Memes may be a love language, but it's not the only one.

(责任编辑：探索)