As with other Industries, the dating industry has been dramatically affected by the current pandemic.

Many people have mixed views about dating during lockdown and this is evident in a recent survey conducted by @made_my_date. The survey revealed that 3/4 of the sample lot are in two minds about dating at the moment. It is clear to see that the majority of singles are in one of two camps when it comes to dating during lockdown. There are those who have taken this opportunity to reflect and have realised that they are longing for that someone special. They are using this time to get back into the dating game and are serious about finding someone special for their future. Then there are those that have done the same thing, but their conclusion has been that actually dating isn't a priority during lockdown as they want to focus on other things.

I for one think this is an amazing result for the dating industry as all the self-reflection has made people more sure about what they want and their priorities in life. The dating industry is now filled with hopeful and determined singles that are seriously looking and ready to date.

The dating industry has gone through a huge re-invention during the lockdown. Many dating apps and websites such as Bumble, Hinge and Shaadi.com have all added new Innovations to the way their users interact. The most popular being the additional service of video call chats with whoever you match with. This is being pushed by many apps and websites in the dating industry and from the survey it is clear that many people are open to the idea of this new style of Dating.

A large sample lot of the people surveyed are open to dating during lockdown specifically because of this new style of Dating; that includes virtual dates, video calls and keeping to social distancing regulations. One third of the people that are dating during lockdown are not sticking to the traditional forms of online dating from using apps to match and communicate, to telephone calls and text messages. A staggering fifth of the people surveyed are actively virtual/video call dating.

Virtual dating i.e. video dates could be considered to create a hindrance to your dating life because you don't get to meet your match in person and this puts many of us out of our comfort zone as we are not used to this alternative.

However, it does bring about a massive benefit. With the socially distant boundaries that have been set upon us all, we are forced to literally keep a physical distance from our dates. Many daters are also very cautious and anxious about the possible risks of meeting up in person because of the current pandemic. Virtual Video Call dating brings the solution to this problem.



One could look at these physical boundaries in a completely different light, looking at the silver lining of the situation. Without the physical stimulation from our date, we automatically focus on the mental and emotional connections that can be built. The focus on the date becomes more about shared passions and interests, the same mindset and the same feelings for one another. From this point of view a socially distant or virtual date can actually lead to a more sustainable, meaningful connection with your date. It can also be seen as a safety precaution within dating. Often when you are meeting somebody for a date in person there can be unwanted advances such as a touch on the hand, an awkward hug or even a kiss on the cheek that wasn't warranted. A socially distant date or a virtual date eliminate the chances of these advances completely. For anyone who is apprehensive about receiving such advances in person the idea of a socially distant date or a virtual date is a much safer and comforting proposition. From the survey conducted over twenty percent of the sample lot did feel comfortable to have a virtual or socially distant date. Perhaps for now this is the best way to continue dating during the current pandemic.

When asking the question as to how people felt about dating during the lockdown this survey received a very mixed bag of answers. Half of the sample lot found dating remotely easy and something that they were used to, many also stated that they haven't actually changed their dating style during the pandemic. However half of the sample lot did say that they've found dating a lot easier with these new features on many of the apps and websites. With this in mind we asked the sample lot what the overall conclusion was in terms of dating during lockdown. Did they find the overall experience positive or negative so far? The majority of the sample lot were unsure as to how the changes in dating have affected their dating life, however over 10% did agree that it has had a positive effect on their dating life. Given the response from the sample lot it seems as though this new direction for dating as a result of the pandemic is a warmly welcome method of dating during the pandemic. It is safe to say that Virtual Dating has firmly found its place along with traditional forms of Dating; matching with people online, corresponding via telephone calls and text messages, and meeting up in person.

* The effects of Lockdown on Dating Article

By Shugi of @made_my_date

Coaching for Dating Service