Distance Dating

Dating is hard. If you speak to most people who use dating apps, they generally will have the same story. Even if you match with someone, the chances of talking, and actually meeting in person are slim.

“I’ve met maybe 3 people [from Tinder],” Jordan, 23 said. “And I never went on a second date with any of them.”

Although the thought of using a dating app and not meeting people from it sounds counterintuitive, currently it’s a good thing. When society started to shut down in early 2020, dating apps, like Tinder and Hinge started encouraging their users to stay at home and go on virtual dates instead.

Hinge, a dating app that uses the slogan “designed to be deleted” is still encouraging their users to “date from home” with phone calls and video chats. According to their app, 70% of Hinge users would be up for going on a digital date.

While digital dating pre-covid was basically unheard of, the option of still going on a date with someone but not meeting them alone for the first time is an attractive one to some online app daters.

“I’ve gotten choked out before by a date so yeah, I’d go on a digital date with someone. You can let your guard down a little more, I think, and maybe it will be easier to meet in person.” Laura, 28 said. “They could still be a murderer though. My friends who are in long-term relationships think I’m crazy, but how else am I supposed to meet people?”

With approximately 2.6 million Canadians using online dating according to statista.com, the dating pool does not seem small. However, many app users use apps like Tinder for sex, not relationships.

“I would go on a date with someone [over the phone or video call] but I wouldn’t do sex,” Jade, 32 said.

As social distancing practices continue, some users have even changed their profile information to reflect the current situation. Many users outline their boundaries in their profile, updating their vaccine status, and what level of distance they’re comfortable with.

Both Tinder and Hinge are encouraging social distancing. At the start of the global pandemic, Team Tinder, Tinder’s profile on their app have noticed longer chats from users in areas that are “most impacted” by Covid-19. “We know there’s a lot to say to each other as we all do our best to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.” A message they sent to all Tinder users said. “Social distancing doesn’t have to mean disconnecting.” In a recent interview with News 1130, a spokesperson for Tinder said that users were using the app differently since the start of the pandemic. More people are following through, and going on dates. While the phrase “unprecedented times” is now grating to hear as it has been used to describe everything for the past year, it is true. People are realizing that life is short, there are examples that life can and will change in an instant in the news and on their social media pages daily. People want to find their partner, and spend their time with someone.

While meeting new people during a pandemic seems potentially unsafe, and even selfish depending on where you live, people are realizing that life is short.

During the best-case scenario, dating is messy, stressful, and potentially dangerous. During a pandemic, dating is all of these things, but with the added risk of COVID-19. While dating may seem frivolous and not a top priority, realizing that you are missing something from your life and wanting to change that is not abnormal.