Using Dating apps during the Pandemic

Dating apps have been around for years but their usage has increased significantly since the pandemic began last March of 2020. With the tough restrictions imposed upon all of us, single people were hit the hardest with socialising being banned. So, as with any other generational issue young people come across, we found a solution, but does it work? and will the newfound popularity for dating apps stick around now that restrictions are lifting?

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For single people during the pandemic, it has been extremely challenging to date and meet new people. There is not much intimacy to be gained from two meters away, and if you have the chance to meet someone online it is not helpful that all places to meet up for a date were closed up until recently. Despite these obstacles, young people have, of course, adapted to the change of circumstance and the use of online dating apps is more popular than ever.

[Image Courtesy of Ross May / LA Times]

In 2020, Tinder increased its number of users by 52 percent and recorded its highest number of swipes ever on a single day, at 3 billion. Bumble also saw a 70 percent increase in video call dates via their app. These figures proved that 2020 was by far both the apps busiest yea by far.

I spoke to Amber Davies, 22, an office manager from North London about her experience with online dating during the pandemic, and if she will continue to use dating apps even with the world opening back up again. : Click here to listen.

Both the public and dating app companies are raving about the success of the more popular virtual dating scene, on a survey carried out by online dating giant OkCupid showed that 31 percent of users preferred engaging in virtual activities, 25 percent chose video chatting over meeting in person and 15 percent preferred watching a movie or TV together online.

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Even though dating app companies are thrilled at the extreme growth and success they’ve received over the last year, they are still encouraging the public to not totally rely on online dating with the world starting to move closer back to normality. Hundreds of free, postal COVID test kits were recently sent out as a new entitative by Tinder to start getting people back out into the dating scene and mixing again. In addition to this, dating apps have introduced guidance features on their apps, to communicate the forever-changing COVID government guidelines, ensuring its users are up to date. The government often prioritizes other things over the public's love life, so it’s easy for some members of the public to fall through the net and not know all the facts. Bumble even added a popup message warning user’s to follow the COVID precautions, like social distancing, wearing a face mask, and washing their hands.

Pease click here to view the latest COVID guidelines if you are unsure in any way.