How digital is changing the way we date

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How digital is changing the way we date
How digital is changing the way we date
10-29-2020 10:00 am
(New York Times, 2020) In the same moment we're telling ourselves to unplug, we reviewing the latest tech gadgets. It's hard to stay entertained during this pandemic, and if you happen to be single, then it's even harder! If you're in a loving relationship, well then, good for you. But for the rest of us, meeting new people for the sake of not feeling utterly alone is nearly impossible. Online dating provides a great escape, distraction, or lifetime partner. But how can you make an honest love connection online? The experts tell us how. 

In a survey conducted by Everlywell, a company that makes at-home health tests, found that nearly one in four Americans ages 20 to 31 broke quarantine to have sexual contact with someone in April, when stay-at-home orders were at their peak. 

To date safely during a pandemic, you probably shouldn't be meeting anyone in person. Dating apps have made it really easy to video chat. Some apps like Bumble lets users to add a badge to their profiles that signifies what kind of dates they're comfortable with: virtual, socially distanced or socially distanced with a mask. Other apps like Lex lets users preface their profile with COVID test results. 

The best option would stick to video chat dates. But if you have text or Zoom fatigue (so do we), You should find out if meeting in person is on the table at some point in the near future. You can also ask them to get tested and show their results, especially here where testing is free. 

Another option is to embrace the mask. A lot fo daters would opt to skip this, due to the mystery of the bottom half of their face. If you already saw them on video chat, meeting in person with masks is a good compromise. "There's something psychologically when you like someone, you automatically trust that they don't have the virus," said Kaley Isabella (31), who works in public relations in LA and has been dating a man she met during the pandemic. "It's crazy and doesn't make someone safe just because you like them." This is important to remember. If you're truly not comfortable meeting in person due to COVID, a mask can be a nice option. 

Dating online can be tricky because of the distance, but utilizing video chat to get to know someone is sooooo much better than wasting time on a bad date (amiright?). That way you can decide if you like someone from the comfort of your couch. It's also a risk - some people may not be as good over tech as in person - haven't you ever heard "don't judge a book by its cover?"

Whatever way you decide to date, make sure you're being safe. You won't want to date anyone if you get COVID, nor would you want to pass it on to someone else. Take advantage of all the tech around us, and find your soulmate! 

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/at-home/coronavirus-pandemic-dating.html

 

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