14 of the hottest dating tips we learned in 2021 — from flirting with your eyes to why coffee dates are the perfect first date

A new relationship often means a few more date nights and special dinners.Getty

• In 2021, singles balanced online and in-person dating as the pandemic continued on.
• Experts said a positive attitude when dating goes a long way. They also suggested serious daters keep their first dates short.

This year, singles faced dating challenges new and old.

As the pandemic raged on, singles relied on dating apps to find matches. Dating app downloads increased 13% in 2021 compared to the last three months of 2020, according to a report from app analytics company Adjust.

At the same time, some dreamed of chance in-person encounters, as vaccines became available in the spring and summer months.

Throughout the year, dating experts told Insider their top tips for finding and flirting with a match, whether on your phone or in-person.