Many single people would agree that the dating game has been somewhat modified during this pandemic.
With national policies and global physical distancing directives in place, as well as the exponential infection rate with no vaccine or cure, you’d think love would be the last thing anyone would be looking for. Ironically, the results from various studies suggest that the coronavirus may actually be improving the dating game.
First, the halt in activities has made singles revert to the traditional dating process of discovering a new person without distractions. Hopefully, with international dating sites like this, singles will be provided with more than enough time to choose the most suitable partner for them and allow emotional attachment and romance to build up gradually and thrive in the long run. We’ll be looking at some of the ways the pandemic has modified the dating game.
- Video chatting,
- No worries about sex or money,
- More time for conversations,
- Deep emotional attachment.
Video Chatting
As a result of the restriction in movement, singles are not only meeting online, they are embracing a new activity: video chatting. The popular dating app Hinge also introduced “Date From Home”, a new add-on that allows users video chat as long as both users agree to do so. In the second week of April, Match, an online dating website, conducted a survey on the changes in the dating process since the pandemic began. 69% of users indicated an interest in video chatting as compared to 6% before the pandemic.
The pandemic has sensitized singles to the numerous benefits of connecting with potential partners on Zoom, Facetime and other video chat platforms. First, you get to see your potential partner in all their physical glory, this allows users to assess 2 significant qualities: their physical appeal and personality. As noted by a reputable dating coach consulted on the topic, video chatting also allows for more sophisticated dialogue and discourse as conversational partners can pick up on subtle nuances in facial expressions and body language that would be missed in text chats.
No Worries about Sex or Money
The coronavirus has provided a short-term solution to the most worrisome aspects of traditional dating: money and sex! There’s hardly any need to worry about how the bills would be split, or if you’d get a kiss after the date, or if it’d be wise to go back home with a date. Pre-coronavirus, 34% of singles had sex prior to the actual first date. Now, even if things get steamy during a video chat, actual sex won’t happen, for a while at least.
More Time for Conversations
There’s more than enough time to do anything you want to do now. There’s no rushing to work, traveling to work, or after-work meetings. Almost everyone has extra time to talk. More so, relevant talks. Tinder recorded a 10-30% increase in the length of conversations. In this period of the coronavirus, singles are more predisposed to reveal thoughts, fears, hopes, and learn significant information about a potential partner quickly. In-depth discussions can help to form the pillar of a flourishing relationship.
Deep Emotional Attachment
The lockdown measures actually have some potential benefits. For one, there’s an extended period of time to get to know a new person. Psychologists believe that deep emotional attachment to a potential partner is formed slowly.
Romantic attachment initially starts out superficial and develops quickly, deep emotional attachment, on the other hand, develops gradually. As humans, we are wired to love slowly, and the coronavirus has extended this process of dating. The lengthier the dating time, the higher the chances of staying together and building a lasting relationship.
We are social animals, and as such it’s almost impossible to reproduce the physical chemistry with a potential partner while video chatting. However, right now video chatting is unlocking new levels in the dating game, saving time, money, and helping singles build a solid emotional attachment. However preposterous it may seem, the coronavirus may actually result in healthy and flourishing relationships after the pandemic.
