Flirting in person is becoming harder to read in an age where almost every emotional exchange can be delayed, edited, or carefully softened behind a screen. And it is not that people are feeling less attraction. Rather, it is that they are increasingly terrified of expressing it in real time.

A new Hint App survey of 14,862 adults across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America points to a growing divide between what people feel in the moment and what they are willing to show face-to-face. Researchers say this may mean that modern romance is quietly shifting from spontaneous interaction to carefully managed digital expression.

The findings paint a picture of attraction that still exists in abundance, but is increasingly trapped behind hesitation. A striking 71 per cent of respondents say they feel more confident expressing attraction by text than in person. Additionally, 63 per cent of respondents admit they have avoided flirting face-to-face even when they were interested.