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Americans Use Dating Apps and Websites to Meet People While Coronavirus Pandemic Persists
The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic prompts people to go on quarantine. This, then, motivates some singles to date from a “social distance” using dating apps.
Many Americans have been using dating apps and websites to connect with others.
“I was initially hesitant because I usually don’t even speak on the phone with someone unless we’ve been dating for a few weeks, let alone FaceTime with someone I’ve never met,” said Jean, 28. “But given that seeing each other in person isn’t an option right now, I figured, ‘why not?’”
According to Fox Business, Jean swiped right on someone she met on Hinge and had chatted with casually. “They have had two FaceTime ‘dates’ since they began talking last month and set up a third virtual dinner for next week,” said the report.
“He’s funny, and we don’t have awkward conversation, we have a lot of mutual stuff in common,” Jean said.
Dating poses a “relative risk, according to the country’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. “If you're willing to take a risk –- and you know, everybody has their own tolerance for risks – you could figure out if you want to meet somebody,” he said during an interview on Snapchat’s “Good Luck America.”
Fauci added that it’s the same for intimate encounters since many individuals are asymptomatic and may unknowingly spread the virus.
Taking Precautions
Single in coronavirus quarantine: Video chat replaces dinner and movie 🤔 https://t.co/5dYpJDmCns
— Tom Kattman (@TomKattman) April 18, 2020
This results in dating apps being the reliable way to meet and date others.
The League, a members-only dating app for professionals, posted a 41 percent increase in video usage.
According to a spokesperson for Bumble, there was a 20 percent increase in the app's voice call and video chat usage for the week of March 12th. This comes along with a 21 percent increase in messages sent in the U.S.
Match Group, which owns Match.com, Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and others, increased its users under the age of 30, as reported by Fox Business.
“As nearly every aspect of our lives is now conducted via video, singles are also becoming increasingly comfortable with video dates, and we are integrating video chat into our apps,” said Shar Dubey, chief executive officer at Match Group, in an open letter this month.
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