The pandemic has changed so much of our lives, and one of the biggest adjustments is the way we socialize. It’s difficult enough to get together with friends in light of the social distancing rules, more so to meet new people and go on dates. It also doesn’t help that so many restaurants, cinemas, and other popular venues for dating have recently shut down. In Chicago alone, over 2,400 businesses have permanently closed, including many notable bars and restaurantsthat have seen many new relationships begin and blossom.
Still, there’s evidence showing that people are still keen on finding romance despite the pandemic (or, as many dating experts put it, becauseof the pandemic). Here’s a look at the ways people are making up for not being able to go on dates in person.
Hire Matchmaking Services
When there’s little opportunity to personally go out and meet new people, the smart thing to do would be to join established networks where there are people who share your desire to meet potential romantic partners. This may not sound romantic, but being smart at the beginning could pave the way for long-lasting romance later on.
For people whose dating experience has been limited to Chicago resto-bars and night clubs – places whose ambience are artificially created to make guests welcome the possibility of dating – a solemn social landscape peppered with warnings about getting too near to strangers is a challenge to navigate.
Boutique matchmaking services make everything easier. They present clients with the profiles of carefully curated candidates who possess the qualities the former are looking for in a potential life partner.
People who have more money than time for casual dating seem to agree. Boutique and high-end matchmakers in Chicago, New York, and other major cities in the country continued to flourish while other industries struggled during the pandemic. Features in the
Create Profiles on Online Dating Apps
What if you don’t have a lot of disposable income but also yearning for romance? Dating apps are the answer. These platforms make it so easy to find and set up in-person or virtual dates during the pandemic. All people have to do is swipe, and they can start connecting with people who share their likes and interests.
Unsurprisingly, the famous match-making app Tinder had about 200,000 new subscribersfrom April to June this year, which was around the time the coronavirus outbreak and mandatory quarantines started.
Other dating apps like Plenty of Fish and OK Cupid also saw increases in paid memberships. Their parent company, Match Group, even reported a 12% increasein its direct revenues from 2019 to 2020.
Go On Virtual Dates
After finding potential dates, the next challenge is figuring out how to have an actual date. For couples who cannot meet in person, it means getting to know each other better through virtual dates.
Zoom, Skype, and Facetime dates are now a thing in the dating scene. Some even say that this new norm in dating is much better than a face-to-face, sit-down dinner at a fancy restaurant. For starters, many still think it’s risky to go out in public at this time. Secondly, virtual dating removes the pressures that come with first dates. There’s no awkward hand-holding or stressing whether you should say goodbye with a kiss.
Virtual dates essentially bring things back to the basics: conversation and compatibility.
Clearly, laws that require people to keep their distance from one another is no match for romance. Thanks to matchmaking professionals, apps, and video conferencing platforms, people can continue to form and nurture relationships that can outlast the pandemic.
