People Navigating Dating as Cities Slowly Re-Open
Contributed by: kellyseal on Wednesday, June 03 2020 @ 01:10 pm
Last modified on Wednesday, June 03 2020 @ 01:40 pm
As summer begins, more places around the world are preparing to re-open public places after shuttering due to the spread of COVID-19 - including parks, beaches, and some restaurants and offices. Many daters have spent the last several weeks virtual dating from the comfort of their homes, but now according to Mashable[*1] , they are considering whether or not to take those dates offline and meet in person. They are also navigating what that might look like.
COVID-19 has interrupted typical dating practices, but it’s also introduced us to the upside of virtual connection. Zoom dates have become popular in recent weeks not only because the pandemic has forced people to rely on technology for interaction, but also because people like the idea of getting to know someone better before actually meeting.
But will it last? Or are daters more anxious than ever to get out of the house and have a face-to-face interaction?
According to a survey from dating app Bumble, 80 percent of its users in the U.S. are open to meeting a match in person rather than going on a virtual date. However, a whopping 44 percent are confused as to what will be acceptable in the “new normal” – in other words, what will dating look like after COVID?
Mashable cited advice from health policy experts, who said that people will likely agree to more outdoor dates like walks and picnics rather than dinners and movies in indoor spaces. They also stressed the importance of social distancing for now, which means staying six feet apart and wearing masks.
“There are three important factors here: responsibility, respect and exercising common sense,” Dr. Jay Wolfson, Senior Associate Dean for Health Policy and Practice at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine, told Bumble. He also advised caution, and suggested people take things slowly and get to know each other before they take that step to meet. “It’s fine to get back out there, but look at this as an exciting new way of experiencing things. Savor the moment, and the expectation. Really get to know somebody.”
Considering how much dating culture has changed since apps came into the picture, people might be more eager than this to meet up in person, with some risking their health for physical contact and sex. Many crave physical intimacy, if not companionship as well.
LA Magazine[*2] reported that – against the advice of public health officials – some daters are having sex with people outside of their households as the pandemic rages on. One actress told the magazine, “on the third or fourth date, if I think it’s time for some action, I invite him over to my house like I did before lockdown. Except now I ask to see his COVID test and check his temperature at the door.”
Physical contact is still a priority for daters. In fact, 60 percent of Bumble users said that if they are forced through another lockdown, they want to find a quarantine buddy so they can shelter together the next time around.