As part of mentioned younger generation aka 16 and German I can tell you its true that classic dating is close to dead at least for most people in my age group here but friend groups and friends becoming partners slowly is the way we build relationships. And that erases the need for classic dating becouse simply hanging around with the group is more exposure than any date. But I'm the kind of 16 year old reading HN so I'm probably not the normal 16 year old German even though I think in this aspect I am like the rest of my generation.

As someone much older, "friend groups and friends becoming partners slowly" was the way we build relationships too.

I dont know what you mean by "classic dating", but what you describe spunds "normal and healthy" to me.

That’s part of the classic way of dating. Going out with people who aren’t your friends is what happens when you’ve fucked your way through your entire friend group and want to meet someone new.