Let’s face it One unfortunate side effect of coronavirus social distancing is that many budding relationships are being cut short, Hinge chirpses are fizzling out and even established couples are feeling the strain. But the remarkable thing about humans is that even in the darkest of times, we manage to make the best of things. For every relationship crashing and burning another is growing and adapting, and despite the odds seeming somewhat against us, one thing is obvious: many of us clearly still want to date. As lockdown was introduced last week, dating app The Inner Circle saw a 50 per cent increase in app users suggesting online dates, Tinder announced conversation time had risen by an impressive 20 per cent and Bumble has noticed a 35 per cent rise in messages being sent. We all need a bit of companionship right now, whether it’s talking virtually online or making quality time with a partner at home. But how do we go about it? Introducing ‘quarantine and chill’. Perhaps the most unexpected dating trend we’ve ever faced, the concept is all about making time for romance from the confines of quarantine – be it with someone you live with or even a person you’ve never even met. In an effort to help you take the plunge, we asked Maria to come up with some tailor made advice and date ideas for those looking to date during lockdown, whatever stage of a relationship they might be in.
Continue reading “The Coronavirus Is Changing How We Date. Experts Think the Shifts May Be Permanent”