Private but not a secret—sometimes it's best to keep some things just for you. This new relationship hack is revolutionizing the dating game, and people are loving it! Here’s why

Words Aly Bautista
June 10, 2024

There's no better feeling than the thrill of solving a good mystery; there’s always something going on. Who knew that what even looked like just a simple meal or an arm resting on the table could attract detectives here and there?

No wonder excluding faces in pictures online has become the new definition of fun. It almost always turns into a huge charades game! Is it a new lover? Maybe. Is it a proposal? Hmm. But we’ll definitely get right back into it!

This subtle art of what seems like a peek-a-boo has been given a name for how it's getting everyone's attention right now: soft launching. Just like the marketing tactic of showing a preview of what is to be released, soft launching your new man is like a teaser, introducing him to everyone in a slow and quiet manner. And if fate decides he's not it, then no face, no case. It's a puzzle, intrigue, and above all, privacy.

Should you semi-reveal your “something new” too? Here are some ways to do it like a pro:

Just Enough but Not Too Much

Showing just enough but not too much does not only apply to relationships. You can even soft launch a new job, a travel destination, or literally anything and everything in the works for you.

You can either show your bouquet of flowers, a new job ID card showing just your face, or a cute mirror selfie of you in your hotel room.

Keep them guessing where you are and what you do because that is exactly the essence of all this—a show-don't-tell. Diving too much into details is a no-no if you really want to pull this off.

Anything but the Face

For your no-nonsense audience who are believers of “pics or it didn't happen,” showing anything but the face is probably the most obvious hint you can give. This slightly advanced level of relationship soft launches already suggests that you’re actually seeing someone and not just using vague pictures of you with your friends.

You can use the most trusted holding hands technique, a silhouette, a cute arm hold, or if you’re brave enough, a full-body picture—still with their face covered. It’s a very easy way to pique people’s interest; you just have to get creative.

Foodstagram

You being all dressed up and looking good are nights you would want to remember. You can't not post a cute date night. But other than the two of you, a snapshot of your food or both of your drinks together could also be your soft launch go-to.

At first glance, it would look like just a pair of glasses, but at second glance, they would think someone is drinking with you. Whether you're sitting across the table or taking a meal photo with their hand on the side, it's a pretty cute way of semi-revealing that you're seeing someone special.

Get Matchy

A couple of sneakers, phone cases, a color-coordinated OOTD, or any accessory that you both own. This one is almost classified as a hard launch, but not quite. Posting your couple items is definitely screaming dating right in your face but still does not take out the mystery from all the missing details. Who are they and when did this happen? Nobody knows, but here’s a photo of his bracelet with my initials on it.

No Tagging!

Thank heavens for the new IG story feature that lets you tag seamlessly without showing on the photo. But for pictures on your grid, tagging your beau would only defy your efforts of soft launching, especially if they're a close acquaintance.

It’s true that butterflies are exciting, but you would not want to get ahead of a boyfriend reveal out of a very common mistake. Now you’ve reached the end of this list, and if you realize that soft launching is not for you, then by all means tag away!

As they say, anything they don't know, they can't ruin. We've seen enough of overly publicized dirt on social media, and we can't blame it if your friend suddenly went low-key. Despite the mixed opinions against soft launching, saying it's for those with commitment issues, just face it: some people just choose not to share their very personal lives, and maybe we should learn from it.

You could go from sharing a cute snap of your first date to one from your one-year anniversary, and who knows? Stick around until the next surprising news!