Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have been been spotted holding hands - and it may mean the era of the "soft launch" is far from over.

The former "American Idol" judge and the former Canadian prime minister stepped out together to attend a cabaret show in Paris for Perry`s 41st birthday on Saturday, Oct. 25, according to video from TMZ and photos published by Backgrid. Perry and Trudeau, 53, held hands as they exited the theater and stepped into a car, surrounded by photographers.

To be clear, neither Perry nor Trudeau have publicly commented on their rumored relationship (and USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Perry for comment). But that hasn`t stopped many online from continuing to speculate the two are indeed in couple. After all, in the era of "soft-launching," sometimes the only way to know if someone is in a relationship is by reading into nonverbal cues.

For those uninitiated to the dizzying lingo of modern dating, a "soft launch" is when you share subtle signs you may or may not be dating someone. Sometimes, soft-launching looks like posting a photo on social media of yourself holding hands with someone, while keeping the identity of that person private. There are varying degrees of a "soft launch," and they`re not to be confused with a "hard launch" - which is when you outright announce you`re in a relationship.

Sara Kuburic, a mental health professional known online as the millennial therapist, broke down the ins and outs of healthy (and unhealthy) soft-launching in a previous column for USA TODAY. Her main takeaway? Make sure you`re soft-launching for the right reasons and with respect for your partner in mind.

"Before you consider soft-launching your relationship, it`s essential to consider your motivation," Kuburic writes. "Sometimes soft-launching will not serve us or be respectful to our partner."
To soft-launch or not to soft-launch

Here are some valid reasons, according to Kuburic, to soft-launch a relationship.

Privacy. "Some people may want to acknowledge their relationship while still maintaining privacy," Kuburic writes. "Privacy can be a way of taking care of yourself and the person you love."

What is `soft-launching` a relationship? And is it right for you?

Uncertainty. "Suppose you feel unsure about the person or the relationship`s future," Kuburic writes. "In that case, a soft launch allows you to test the waters without having public consequences if things don`t work out. It`s a noncommittal way to announce there is someone in your life."
Compromise. "Maybe your partner is upset that you`re not posting about them, but you have strict social media boundaries," Kuburic writes. "You decide to soft-launch your relationship as a way to meet somewhere in the middle."

What we know about Katy Perry, Justin Trudeau

Perry and her longtime partner Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares 5-year-old daughter Daisy Dove, announced their split in July. At the time, representatives for the Grammy Award-nominated singer and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor, who had been engaged for six years, said the pair "have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting."

"They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is - and always will be - raising their daughter with love, stability and mutual respect," a statement said.

Meanwhile, Trudeau - who resigned as Canadian prime minister earlier this year amid a dismal election forecast - split from his wife Sophie Grégoire in 2023. The former couple married in 2005 and share three children.

When they announced their separation, Trudeau and Grégoire said they would "remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build."

Contributing: Brendan Morrow