Love in Lockdown: How coronavirus impacted dating

Remember when ‘Love Lockdown’ was merely a Kanye West throwback and face masks seemed like a fun accessory to a Grey’s Anatomy-themed party? Well, times have changed my fellow lockdowners, times have changed. Coronavirus has jolted nearly every aspect of our lives; we’re learning algebra online, conference calls have taken on a life of their own, and our Uber Eats bills have never been higher. And while we refuse to accept that this is, in fact, our new normal, we have to admit that the global lockdown has altered our online dating behavior, perhaps for the better.

According to the dating website OkCupid, online love-seekers have been messaging each other 30% more during lockdown than in early March. Women, in particular, have been sending 40% more first messages than in pre-shutdown days (read why women should always be messaging first).

The dating platform says we’re being ushered into an era of “slow dating” that’s being driven, in part, to the lockdown. There’s less importance of an immediate physical connection on a Zoom chat than when grabbing in-person drinks, according to OkCupid, “the switch to virtual dates has allowed [for] emotional connections to thrive.”

More than one-third of singles say the best part of virtual dating is it’s far less pressure to catch up online than to meet someone in person. With virtual dating, the focus lands on the quality of conversation and time spent together, rather than who’s paying for dinner or if they should spend the night.

A bonus for people seeking long-term partners: OkCupid reports a 20% decline in users looking for hook-ups and an increase in those wanting that crazy little thing called love (although, more than half of the respondents said they wouldn’t say no to a little phone sex).

What do you think? Will you give virtual dating a go?