Long gone are the days of aimlessly swiping through Tinder, exchanging a few messages, and grabbing a drink with a match that meets your taste, all within 24 hours. For singles and couples separated by the pandemic, dating has taken on a new definition.
In place of those classic dates are now Zoom dates, more Zoom dates, and even more Zoom dates. And maybe hanging out in a park, talking loudly to each other from six feet apart.
I joined a few dating apps myself, stating in my bio that I was a journalist looking for sources for this story. It turns out that using dating apps for things other than dating is against community guidelines for almost every app.
Compared to before, Shreve has found herself staying interested in talking with people on dating apps longer. According to a Bumble representative, one in four conversations now have a large amount of messages sent between both parties. Unsurprisingly, some people feel limited by dating exclusively by phone. Thach usually spends time getting to know his matches before meeting up in personβusually during a walk around one of the lakes, or while paddle boating.
So, Thach has been trying new types of virtual dates. Mackenzie, 25, and Nate, 29, are well practiced in virtual dating. Over the past five months, the long distance couple have tried a myriad of different ways to stay connected while apart.
