All for the Semaphore: Formalizing the Red, Green, and Beige Flags in Dating 

In the world of online dating, there’s a relatively new communication system that goes beyond swipes and profiles. It’s a language of flags, arbitrary signs that convey critical information about individuals. The adoption of the notions of red and green flags into the domain of online dating and the discourse surrounding them were the talk of the town for a while and then an all-new phenomenon of beige flags followed. What is the relationship between all three, and what is the landscape they’re flying over? Experts from RAW, the innovative dating app, are here to provide insights into the concepts and explain why they’ve integrated it to enhance the online dating experience.

Untangling the Fabrics of Dating Flags

First, let’s take a proper look at the color-indebted categories.

Red Flags:

In the realm of dating, red flags are something that should be perceived as warning sirens. They are surface-level behaviors that warrant caution and can signal potential deeper issues. These can range from the subject bad-mouthing their ex and bombarding you with inappropriate photos to being consistently unresponsive or regularly canceling plans last minute. Having noticed such red flags, it’s often wise to stay vigilant and even consider whether the connection is worth pursuing.

Green Flags: 

Conversely, green flags are considered the rays of hope in the dating universe. These are signs that suggest positive attributes in a potential partner, such as reliability, coming up with great date ideas, or demonstrating a genuine interest in a serious relationship. Green flags indicate that you might be onto something (and someone) special.

Beige Flags: 

Not as attention-demanding as red flags but not as relieving as green ones, beige flags are things that hint at potential compatibility issues. In popular imagination, beige flags may list overly generic descriptions on dating app profiles, lowbrow movie and TV preferences, or lackluster conversational skills. The term is used for traits that signal a connection potentially somewhat dull but not necessarily disastrous. Unlike the previous two categories, rooted in universal understandings of good and bad (or socially acceptable), these are really subjective and depend on the receiving party’s individual icks. 

What Flags Reveal About the Dating Landscape

So, what does the rise of these notions collectively say about our world? It is a testament to the shifts in how people navigate the world of dating. The emergence of these color-coded flags reflects the need for a nuanced approach to meeting new people as well as readiness to better understand oneself — one’s own standards, preferences, and borders. People devised this system and got onboard with it to make more informed decisions in a world where online dating can sometimes feel like a maze. It’s a way to find order to the complexity of human connections, mentally highlighting crucial aspects of compatibility and potential pitfalls.

In Comes RAW’s Respect Meter

The budding dating app RAW has taken these flag concepts to a whole new level with its Respect Meter. This feature innovatively integrates red, green, and beige flags into the online dating experience. On RAW, when you visit a user’s profile you’ll see their flags listed, as reported by other users. Respect Meter isn’t designed to judge or label people but rather to foster a culture of respect and to empower. In the context where surprising 50% of Gen Z New Yorkers surveyed by RAW admitted to having had negative dating experience and 82% claimed being ghosted at least once, Respect Meter is built to create a space where people can more easily assess their compatibility, which hopefully provides for a more transparent dating environment.

Embracing the Complexity of Connections

It’s impossible to move through the ever-evolving world of online dating without embracing the complexity of connections. Looking out for red, green, and beige flags is a great exercise for developing tools to navigate this intricate landscape. They invite the necessary reflection that helps us arrive at valuable insights about our dates and ourselves. It’s still important to act on the insights, but for those who do, with flags, these actions are the most informed and self-aware! So if you are embarking on your dating journey, it is never too late to start paying attention to people’s flags—and they might just guide you toward more meaningful and exciting connections.