The coronavirus pandemic has been dramatically different from other, more familiar crises. An outbreak of contagious disease isn’t a burst of disaster; it’s a long, drawn-out ordeal, lasting months and fueling long-term changes in our behavior. With everything from work to doctors’ visits being different now, it’s no shock that dating is also going to see some transformation.
With so much of life on pause during quarantine, many of us have pumped the brakes on our personal lives, too. CEO Tino Dietrich anticipates a slower approach to finding a mate in our future.
Here are five ways Dietrich says dating might look a little different in the coronavirus world.
- The cold approach will get creative. New infections are on the down-swing, but social distancing isn’t going anywhere soon. With people more hesitant to get close to strangers—to say nothing of touching them—folks will find new ways to catch attention, introduce themselves, and flirt while six feet apart.
- There’s no rush. With many more careful about socializing, it’s normal to get slightly more picky with partners. New relationships may have slower starts, with more people waiting longer than before to get physically intimate.
- Get to know each other online. Dating over the Internet isn’t new, but it’ll likely become more common for people in the same area to still have first dates over Zoom or Skype. It’s better for real connection than texting, but still gives you time to build trust before meeting face-to-face.
- Intimacy may go digital. As cities face multi-part reopenings, it’s likely that more people will turn to webcams for private time than before.
- Hygiene will come to the forefront. It would once have been bizarre to wear a mask and gloves to grab coffee, but for many of us, safety comes first.
For more on Tino Dietrich, be sure to visit his website! You can also follow him on Twitter.
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