Back when my boys went to 8th grade dance (3 over the last 8 years YIKES), the trend was to buy a bouquet of flowers or a small nose gay type thing instead of a corsage. They didn't start wearing corsages until they actually stayed with their date throughout the night
.
At 8th grade dance, they all had "dates" but by the time the music started, they were all dancing in a group - so Voila, no dates.
Maybe that's why they don't give dates corsages in college either - haha.