Love in the time of Covid: Online dating websites report boom in business
How lonely singles are changing the history of romance as the monotony of isolation leads to a surge in virtual match-ups
All dressed up with nowhere to go – that’s the new normal for Scottish singletons who have turned to online dating in their thousands, swapping first-date drinks for living room Skype calls to stay connected during lockdown.
Despite not being able to meet up in person, potentially for months after matching virtually, more and more daters are signing up to the likes of eHarmony,
Plenty of Fish and Hinge, hoping to meet that special someone online.
In fact, according to leading dating app Bumble, since lockdown began there has been a 35% increase in messages sent between matched users and a 21% increase in video calls over the past week.
What’s more, researchers at eHarmony found virtual dating has become a useful resource for singles who are finding isolation difficult, with more than half of users (57%) dialling into video dating to ease current feelings of loneliness.
However, Charly Lester, a relationship expert, admits dating online isn’t the easy option.
“Right now, it’s going to require a bit more effort – people aren’t just going to text back and forward,” explained Charly, from online site The Inner Circle, which has seen a 99% surge in match-ups.
“People are going to expect some form of face-to-face chat, whether that’s with a phone call or through Skype. And if it doesn’t get to that stage, they’re probably going to be eager to end things a little bit more quickly.
“If anyone is dating online for a casual ‘hook-up’ they’re really in the wrong place!”
Experts even say the lockdown has the potential to change the dating landscape forever, even altering how future generations meet.
For a long time, 2035 had been tipped as the year more people would meet online than by any other means, but this could now move forward dramatically.
Charly believes society may also change, with more people looking to settle down and form strong bonds with a partner, rather than staying single. She said: “The current situation is going to make people appreciate relationships more.
“Being single definitely brings a different side to isolation.”
Of course, it’s not just individuals who have seen their circumstances change. Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries recently advised couples to decide whether they would stay apart or “test the strength of their relationship” by moving in with each other during quarantine.
Shannon Smith, from dating website Plenty of Fish, said: “Whether you’ve taken the leap to move in together during lockdown, or you’ve only recently moved in with each other, the most important thing to do is cut yourself some slack.
“Try putting in a few date nights where you actively do something as a couple, such as making a meal together or playing board games.
“And remember space and silence are OK. Just because you’re living together doesn’t mean you can’t have time to yourself.”
Here, we speak to a couple living together for the first time, a new husband and wife, and an avid online dater, to discover the nuances of love in the time of coronavirus . . .