As we head inexorably towards the first anniversary of 11 March 2020, the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, this respiratory disease continues to be a cause of major concern. This has permeated every level of society but has had a particular impact on mental as well as physical health. With lockdowns and social distancing, people living on their own or singles looking for partners can at least rely on the Internet to touch base.
Dating sites have remained one area people can turn to when they feel the need to keep in touch with friends or reach out to potential partners. Nowadays there are a lot of these dating sites. Having a diverse range of choices is a good thing, but the flip side of this means it can be hard to choose the right one for a new user. There may be a lot of excellent sites to sign up to, but there are some to avoid. The sheer popularity of this medium means they can be seen as a platform to be exploited by spammers, scammers, and various other dubious individuals. It’s important to use only trustful sites. The official site is the right way to prevent getting your private information into the hands of fraudsters. With that in mind, how else has COVID-19 altered people’s opinions about online dating?
1) Some are apprehensive about embracing online dating
At face value, having the ability to sign up to a dating site and then browse through seemingly limitless profiles of prospective partners seems so easy. Some remain sceptical about getting to know others in this way. You can certainly develop a rapport, but until you meet and enjoy a face-to-face rendezvous, the person at the other end of each message is merely a username and a pixelated image. But meeting in the flesh is no longer straightforward. With so many offline outlets closed or with restricted access, where can you hang out with other singles? How can you know whether or not a potential date is virus-free? Going online allows you to establish meaningful connections. You can develop a sense of chemistry with someone, finding out if they’re right for you by building trust.
2) Online dating is focused on compatibility
Dating sites will invite you to divulge many of your personal details as part of the registration process. What are your aspirations? Your tastes? When you become a member, algorithms built into the site will assist you in your quest to uncover suitable matches. When you search the database of personal profiles, you can home in on other users who share your hobbies and passions. You can also fine-tune your searches, amending the various topic parameters or filters. This will ensure you are only paired with appropriate individuals. The more you reach out to singles with intimate messages, the greater the scope becomes to develop relationships with kindred spirits, avoiding unnecessary timewasting.
3) Internet dating is much more convenient than the regular version
From the outset, you have the freedom to choose the type of relationship to get involved in. Some websites are all about nurturing long-term partnerships and will ensure this aim is underlined on their homepage. Others are all about casual encounters. Depending on the site you decide to sign up to, what you can be sure of is the motivation of the member you will be interacting with. If you are merely seeking one-night-stands, then there would be no point joining a website where your forward approach is only going to alienate everyone you come into contact with. More and more singles are being drawn to sites based on commitment, especially in the present pandemic climate. Where STDs were once the by-product of no-strings-attached encounters, exposure to COVID is now preying on the minds of anyone hooking up with strangers.
4) Online interaction has exploded in the current pandemic climate
Various measures have been taken to control the spread of COVID, including requesting people to work from home, where practicable. This has proved to be remarkably popular. As well as employees taking advantage of the convenience of holding meetings, seminars, and training sessions via computer links, friends can touch base via software such as Zoom, participating in everything from virtual wine-tasting parties to communal exercise classes. As you are building a rapport with another site user, you can do so whenever is most convenient. Instead of spending time traveling to date locations, you can socialize online. With the advent of Virtual Reality headsets and sensory hardware, contact can become almost as tactile as the real thing!
5) Dating sites transcend traditional barriers
Perhaps you live in a region where there are COVID hotspots. Some of the larger dating websites command worldwide audiences of millions, allowing you to spread your wings when you’re making new acquaintances.
6) You are firmly in the driving seat
When you date online, you are in charge. You decide which site(s) to join, and the potential partners to reach out to. No matter what your long-term goal is – friendship, casual dates, entertainment, or marriage – you decide which of the other site users seems to be most appropriate. If you’re not getting the right vibe with someone, you are under no obligation to persevere. Why should you feel the need to? Your next choice of a potential partner is only a click away.
