21st Century Dating – Is It Really Better?

Enter the pandemic. And it came on the heels of years of the digital age of dating and matchmaking. These two phenomena have ushered in a 21st-century dating scene like none other before it. Especially for Gen Zer’s and young millennials, the use of online dating apps has exploded.

Given this “explosion,” dating app companies have stepped up to the plate and expanded all of the options possible. Now those looking for dates and/or romance can filter their potential matches for all sorts of demographics – age, race, lifestyles, religion, and, especially important, geo-location so that meet-ups can ultimately happen in person. Is this method of dating better than traditional ways of dating?

Common Traditional Dating Methods

You only have to look at your parents’ dating habits to see these traditional methods.

Meeting Someone at Social Events

Your parents went to happy hours, to weddings, to parties, etc., and sometimes met other singles that resulted in dates and even long-term relationships and marriage.

Blind Dates

Friends often “fixed up” blind dates for their single friends, thinking that they may hit it off, or as a favor to someone else. These could go well or not.

Joining Singles Groups

These could range from anything such as church or community center groups to joining other activities – bowling leagues, dance clubs, and such. Again, there certainly were possibilities that a single might find a good match.

These options are still around today, but most younger singles see them as old, outdated, and a slow route to dating.

Enter the 21st Century Dating Scene

Today, meeting up with other singles who may be good dating potentials is a matter of downloading a bunch of apps and clicking or swiping their way to those possibilities. And, as can be expected, the billions of dating app users increase in numbers as their age group goes down.

So, is this dating scene actually better? Let’s have a look at the pros that digital dating and matching offer:

● It’s faster and more convenient. App users can go looking on their own time and see large numbers of profiles in a small amount of time
● Dating apps are highly specialized. For example, if you are a member of the LGBTQ community, you will find sites like the popular Taimi app, that cater specifically to your dating preferences.
● Most dating apps now offer not just user profiles, but options for audio and video chat, so that they can explore compatibility even further

All of this sounds good. Are there any drawbacks to this new digital dating? Yes, there are some:

● Users may be tempted to try out any of the numerous free dating apps that are very new, not well known, or of sketchy reputation. In these instances, meetups can be very risky. Users are not vetted or screened.
● Users may become targets for cyberbullying or cyber criminals who attempt to get users’ personal and financial information 

In all, younger singles find online dating and matching far better than the methods used by their parents. And, as long as they are careful, use only reputable company apps, and want ease and convenience, this method is a great option.

Do 21st-century singles ever use other methods? Of course. They still meet other singles at social events, and they still may take an occasional blind date. And then, there’s the popular option of speed dating – signing up for a local event and spending short periods of time getting to know other singles who share their interests and preferences. These can be fun events, but again, caution is advised.

21st-Century Dating Will Continue to Change

As technology continues to evolve, so will the technology of dating and looking for relationships. We are not sure what will come in the future – perhaps augmented and virtual reality options, where couples can actually go on virtual dates. What we do know is that technology and new attitudes have already made a huge impact.

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