In the age of app-based romance, fresh dating trends seem to emerge every week. Many of them – in the mould of ghosting and catfishing – are profoundly antisocial, while some are defensive strategies against toxic suitors. More than a few are but new names for disgraceful behaviours as old as time. You may have been the victim of one – or you may have unwittingly deployed one – but how many can you identify? Which of the following are genuine trends, and which are not?1.Breadcrumbing. In this strategy, the toxic romantic prospect offers an admirer a sparse trail of attention – intermittent texts, occasional flirtations and “likes” of social media posts; just enough to maintain a level of continuing interest without personal investment or commitment. 2.Ghostlighting. An unholy combination of ghosting and gaslighting: to disappear from a romantic partner’s life suddenly and completely, only to reappear months or even years later, as if nothing untoward had occurred, with the intention of picking up where things left off. 3.Floodlighting. The practice of oversharing personal emotional baggage – on a first date, or even sooner – in order to seem vulnerable and engineer a quick route to intimacy. The apparent vulnerability on offer is, in this case, a ruse.