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