For many of us, dating apps have filled the void in our lives from the lack of social interaction during Covid-19. And it is no surprise that the use of these apps has increased significantly during this time. With limited options on how we can spend our spare time, our thumbs have spent hours upon hours swiping left or right. Terrible pick up lines and awkward conversations somehow seem inviting.
“Turns out you really cannot judge a book by its cover and swiping right on someone who you like the look of does not always come with a winning personality.”
I am ashamed to admit it but at the start of the first lockdown, this was me as I made my dating app comeback. Receiving compliments and attention was just what I needed. But soon, I realised a large handful of boys only wanted one thing. Late night notifications didn’t mean these boys liked you, it meant they were bored. And not in the same way I was bored in that I wanted a laugh. Users of these apps have always experienced this but it did seem more severe during lockdown, like people had nothing else to do than harass others with their ‘banter’. Turns out you really cannot judge a book by its cover and swiping right on someone who you like the look of does not always come with a winning personality.
However, Tinder did work for me. When I tell people this, the first thing they would say is “what did the first message say?”. And while I moan about other boys not giving me the entertainment and laughter I desired, the boy I fell in love with sent a series of ‘____’. Yep, that’s right, that was his ‘pick up line’. Get it? Took me a while too, but I let him have that one and gave him a chance.
“Lockdown meant we could communicate with few distractions and I am grateful for that.”
It was all going well, we were getting to know each other and chatting 24/7 into the early hours of the morning. I would check my phone constantly, waiting for him to message me.
But then we scheduled a ‘virtual date’ on FaceTime and the thought of having to make conversation scared me. In the normal situation, sipping your drink or looking around the room would appropriately fill the silence. But you couldn’t do that as successfully on FaceTime and while I am not a shy person, the thought of speaking to someone from a dating app did scare me. So I made up an excuse – and during a national lockdown that was hard to find! But luckily I ‘had another zoom’… apparently?
I did get past this and then a series of socially distanced walks led to a relationship. Nearly a year later and it’s still going strong. Lockdown meant we could communicate with few distractions and I am grateful for that.
I now recommend dating apps to my friends. While safety checks need to be done before meeting someone, they are the perfect way to find what you’re looking for. Whether that is a bit of fun or a serious relationship (you just have to eliminate the majority of matches to find the latter!).
Alice Lasseter
Featured image courtesy of Yogas Design via Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes have been made to this image.